Glitch Productions hiring 3D Character Rigger – Animation & Games

Company: Glitch Productions
Department: Games
Employment Type: Contract
Location: Remote / Melbourne / Sydney

As a 3D Character Rigger, you will work across both our animated series and game production, with your time split approximately equally between the two projects.

You’ll be responsible for developing production-ready character rigs that support exaggerated, cartoony animation while meeting the technical requirements of real-time game development.

From expressive facial systems and squash-and-stretch controls to clean deformation and engine-ready skeletons, you’ll ensure animators have the tools they need to bring characters to life.

You’ll take ownership of the complete rigging process, from initial setup and development to testing, troubleshooting and ongoing improvements. We value artists who can work independently, solve technical challenges and contribute ideas to improve our rigging pipeline.

Job Overview : 3D Character Rigger

About Glitch Productions

Glitch Productions is an independent animation and games studio known for creating original animated content and exciting entertainment experiences.

Alongside our animated series, we are developing a new game in Unreal Engine 5 based on one of our established intellectual properties (IP). Our projects bring together familiar and new characters across both animation and interactive gaming experiences.

We are a small, fast-moving team that values creativity, collaboration and direct communication. Our artists work closely with project leads, allowing feedback and creative ideas to move quickly from development to final production.

We’re looking for a talented 3D Character Rigger who is passionate about building high-quality character rigs for stylised animation and real-time games.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain high-quality character rigs for animated series production using Autodesk Maya.
• Develop game-ready rigs for playable characters, NPCs and props.
• Prepare and export character rigs and skeletons for seamless integration into Unreal Engine 5.
• Create rigs that support exaggerated and stylised animation, including squash and stretch, stretchy limbs and expressive facial controls.
• Develop intuitive and animator-friendly control systems for body mechanics, facial expressions and character performances.
• Perform character skinning and weight painting to achieve clean deformations during extreme poses and movements.
• Ensure rigs meet the artistic and technical requirements of both animation and game production.
• Collaborate closely with animators to understand requirements and improve rig functionality.
• Troubleshoot deformation, skinning and rigging issues identified during production.
• Maintain, update and optimise existing rigs based on feedback from animators and project leads.
• Develop Python scripts, tools and automation systems to improve rigging workflows and production efficiency.
• Contribute ideas and technical solutions to improve the overall character rigging pipeline.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Approximately 3+ years of professional character rigging experience in animation, gaming or both industries.
• Expert-level knowledge of character rigging and skinning workflows in Autodesk Maya.
• Strong Python scripting skills for developing rigging tools, automation systems and production utilities.
• Hands-on experience preparing and implementing character rigs for Unreal Engine 5.
• Strong understanding of skeleton structures, joint hierarchies, deformation systems and skin weighting.
• Experience creating rigs for stylised, exaggerated or cartoony character animation.
• Knowledge of facial rigging, facial controls and expressive character systems.
• Ability to develop animator-friendly rigs that support complex poses and performances.
• Understanding of game-ready rigging requirements and real-time engine constraints.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical challenges independently.
• Ability to manage priorities, communicate clearly and take ownership of assigned tasks.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Portfolio Requirement: Applicants must provide a showreel or portfolio demonstrating professional character rigging and skinning work. The portfolio should ideally include stylised characters, facial rigging, deformation examples and production-ready rigs.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience with character rigging workflows in Blender.
• Credits on at least one shipped game and an animated series or feature film.
• Previous experience working with small or independent animation and game development teams.
• Knowledge of character animation principles and animator workflows.
• Experience developing custom rigging tools and improving production pipelines.
• Familiarity with real-time character deformation and engine optimisation.

What We Offer

• Competitive starting salary with performance and salary reviews every six months.
• Flexible working arrangements, including work-from-home opportunities and flexible working hours.
• A casual and creative studio environment where individual contributions are valued.
• Regular company events and complimentary access to conventions and industry events.
• Convenient office locations near public transport in Parramatta and Melbourne CBD.
• Paid gym memberships.
• Regular company breakfasts and lunches.
• A diverse and collaborative team that values independent thinking and career development.

Our Values

At Glitch Productions, we have an art-first mindset. Regardless of which team we’re part of, every team member shares one core mission: to create exceptional art and deliver experiences that delight our audience.

Our culture is built around four fundamental values:

Passion

Passion drives everything we create. We encourage every team member to bring creative energy, enthusiasm and a personal touch to their work. It allows us to develop new ideas, explore creative possibilities and produce work that connects with our audience.

Innovation

We embrace experimentation, new technologies and fresh ideas. From developing creative production techniques to building innovative pipelines, we continuously look for opportunities to push the boundaries of animation and game development.

Teamwork

Great creative projects are built through collaboration. We believe in sharing knowledge, supporting one another and valuing the different skills and perspectives that each team member brings to the studio.

Integrity

Honesty, accountability and mutual respect are at the heart of our work. We believe in doing the right thing for our projects, our colleagues and our audience.

Diversity & Inclusion

Glitch Productions is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and grow.

We hire based on skills, passion and potential, and value the different perspectives that make our team stronger. We welcome applicants of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, educational backgrounds and abilities.

If you’re passionate about character rigging, enjoy solving technical challenges and want to help bring memorable characters to life across animation and games, we’d love to hear from you!