Website Visual Concepts
Visual Concepts is a powerhouse in the video game industry, recognized globally as a leader in sports simulation and technical innovation. For over three decades, we have remained at the forefront of the medium, shipping over 100 multi-platform titles that have achieved both critical acclaim and massive commercial success.
Visual Concepts’s culture is built on the pillars of independence and entrepreneurship, fostering an environment where diverse and empowered teams collaborate to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming.
With a global footprint spanning from California to Seoul and Budapest, Visual Concepts offers a unique opportunity to work alongside some of the most brilliant minds in the industry. We are currently seeking a highly skilled Rigging Technical Artist to join our NBA 2K team on a temporary basis. This role is essential for maintaining the high standard of realism and fluidity that the NBA 2K franchise is known for, specifically focusing on the intricate mechanics of human movement and facial expression.
Role Snapshot & Compensation
The following table summarizes the essential logistical and financial details for this position. Visual Concepts is committed to pay transparency and offers competitive rates based on geographic market locations.
Job Overview
- Company Name: Visual Concepts (Part of Take-Two Interactive)
- Position Title: Rigging Technical Artist (NBA 2K)
- Employment Type: Temporary / Full-Time
- Location: Fully Remote (United States & British Columbia, Canada)
- California Pay Range: $41.00 – $57.00 per hour
- Washington Pay Range: $41.00 – $57.00 per hour
- New York / New Jersey Pay Range: $37.00 – $51.00 per hour
- British Columbia (Canada) Pay Range: CAD $34.00 – $48.00 per hour
- Reporting Line: Reports to the Lead Technical Artist
The Team and Mission
The NBA Tech Art team is a specialized, multi-disciplinary group of experts dedicated to bridging the gap between raw artistic vision and real-time engine performance. As a member of this team, you won’t just be “building characters”; you will be solving the complex mathematical and anatomical puzzles that allow our digital athletes to move with lifelike precision.
Our team handles everything from custom tool development for the art department to complex character, prop, and clothing rigging. We pride ourselves on being the studio’s premier problem-solvers, ensuring that every asset produced is optimized, functional, and aesthetically superior.
Core Responsibilities as Rigging Artist
As a Rigging Technical Artist, your daily workflow will involve a mix of high-level anatomical study, complex node-based logic, and Python automation.
1. Advanced Rigging and Deformation
Your primary objective is the refinement of character rigs to achieve peak realism.
- Anatomical Accuracy: Update character rigs to improve deformation, ensuring that muscles, joints, and skin respond accurately to the stresses of high-intensity athletic movement.
- Math Node Networks: Architect intricate math node networks within Maya to establish new connections and behaviors for both body and facial rigs.
- Facial Rigging: Implement Facial Action Coding System (FACS) based rigs, allowing for nuanced and emotive performances.
2. Asset Integration and Refinement
You will work closely with the character art team to finalize assets for the game engine.
- Shape Authorship: Implement blendshapes and corrective shapes to fix “broken” deformations in extreme poses.
- Weight Painting: Create clean, optimized skinweight and blendweight maps to ensure smooth transitions across mesh boundaries.
- Topology Review: Evaluate mesh edge-flow to ensure it supports natural deformation during animation.
3. Pipeline and Tool Development
Efficiency is key in a production as massive as NBA 2K. You will:
- Automation: Write Python code to automate repetitive rigging tasks and create procedural setups.
- Debugging: Diagnose and resolve rigging-related errors within the proprietary pipeline and the game engine itself.
- Documentation: Contribute to the studio’s internal knowledge base, ensuring that workflows and pipeline improvements are scalable and easy for other team members to follow.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for an expert who lives at the intersection of Art and Science. You should have a “technical eye” for how things move and the “coding hands” to make it happen.
Required Technical Skills
- Software Mastery: Strong expertise in Autodesk Maya is non-negotiable.
- Anatomy Knowledge: A profound understanding of human musculoskeletal structures and how they translate to 3D deformation.
- Scripting: Working knowledge of Python and PyMel for tool creation and rig automation.
- Optimization: Experience creating character rigs that are highly optimized for real-time game engines.
- Standards: Familiarity with joint placement, skeleton hierarchy design, and industry-standard FACS systems.
“Nice to Have” Qualifications
- Experience with NgSkinTools for advanced weight painting workflows.
- Familiarity with Qt for creating custom, artist-friendly User Interfaces.
- Experience with Perforce or similar version control systems in a large-team environment.
- Proficiency with the Maya Python API for deeper software integration.
- Ability to create dynamic simulation setups, such as jiggle joints or cloth-mimicking rigs.
Work Environment and Benefits
Visual Concepts believes in the power of a “shared passion for play.” While this is a temporary role, you are treated as a vital part of the collective. This position is fully remote, offering you the flexibility to work from your preferred location within the United States or British Columbia.
Total Compensation: Beyond the hourly base pay (which is determined by location, skills, and experience), the total compensation package for this position may include:
- Potential for bonus and/or equity awards.
- Access to a range of medical, financial, and other benefits (details provided upon offer).
- The opportunity to work on one of the most successful sports franchises in history.
Visual Concepts a team that loves video games—not just the ones we make, but the medium as a whole. If you are a problem-solver who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and possesses a deep love for the technical side of character creation, we want to hear from you.
To apply for this job please visit job-boards.greenhouse.io.