🎬 Flying Bark Productions is Hiring – Rigging Lead (Sydney, Hybrid, 2026 Start)

Are you a master of skeletal architecture, a wizard of deformation, and a leader who thrives on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in character movement? Flying Bark Productions, the visionary studio behind internationally acclaimed projects like Avatar: The Last Airbender (feature film), the animated Ghostbusters and Stranger Things series for Netflix, and Tales From Outer Suburbia, is looking for a Rigging Lead to join our team in Sydney. If you are ready to helm the technical foundations of our upcoming 2026 slate, we want to hear from you.

About Flying Bark Productions

Flying Bark Productions is more than just an animation studio; we are a hub of creative storytelling and technical innovation. Our work resonates with audiences globally, and we pride ourselves on a culture that celebrates boldness, artistic integrity, and technical excellence. Located in the heart of Sydney, our studio is designed to be an inspiring home for artists and technical directors alike.

From our Zen Garden and games room to our dedicated cinema, we have built an environment that supports creativity, fosters collaboration, and offers a truly unique professional experience.

The Role: Architecting Character Performance

As our Rigging Lead, you will be the bridge between technical precision and artistic expression. You will be responsible for creating and overseeing the complex character and prop rigging systems that bring our stories to life in Maya. This is a high-level leadership role where your work will define the performance potential for every character on screen.

You will guide our rigging team, ensuring that every asset is not only technically sound and optimized for production but also intuitive and rewarding for our animators to use. You will work in lockstep with CG Supervisors, Animation Leads, and the Modeling department, ensuring that the rig serves the performance from the moment it is built to the moment it is finalized on screen.

Quick Job Summary : Rigging Lead

Key Responsibilities

Your daily contributions will be vital to the success of our global animation projects. Your responsibilities include:

• System Architecture: Develop and maintain sophisticated animation control rigs for a wide variety of characters, creatures, and props.
• Team Leadership: Mentor, manage, and inspire our rigging crew, fostering a culture of technical rigor and creative problem-solving.
• Pipeline Collaboration: Partner with cross-departmental leads to integrate rigging workflows seamlessly into our overall production pipeline.
• Troubleshooting & Support: Act as the primary point of contact for technical support, proactively addressing issues encountered by animators and other technical directors to maintain project momentum.
• Quality Control: Uphold our high standards for performance, aesthetic consistency, and technical efficiency across all rigged assets.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a rigging expert who understands that great technical work is ultimately in service of the acting. Candidates should possess:

• Technical Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Maya, with advanced scripting capabilities in Python and MEL.
• Deep Anatomical Knowledge: A strong understanding of anatomy, surface deformations, and complex behavioral logic.
• Pipeline Expertise: A proven history of navigating rigging workflows within a high-end animation pipeline.
• Leadership Presence: Excellent communication skills, with a track record of leading teams and managing production schedules.

Bonus points will be awarded for experience with muscle simulations, Bifrost, or specialized knowledge in real-time animation pipelines.

Why Join Flying Bark?

When you join our team, you become part of a global creative community. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support your work-life balance and long-term career growth:

• Hybrid Flexibility: Our hybrid work model provides the perfect balance between in-studio collaboration and remote work flexibility.
• Supportive Environment: We are deeply committed to your well-being, offering extensive mental health resources and an inclusive culture.
• Career Growth: We invest in our people through ongoing training, workshops, and career development support.
• Studio Lifestyle: Experience the best of Sydney’s animation scene in a state-of-the-art studio built for comfort, social connection, and fun.

Apply Now

If you are ready to relocate to Sydney and help define the future of animated performance, please apply today. We are looking for candidates who are ready to make a significant impact on our 2026 productions and beyond.