| Category | Details |
| Company Name | Outpost VFX |
| Position Title | Senior Rigging Artist |
| Job Type | Full-time, Short-term Contract |
| Salary Range | £55,000 – £75,000 per annum (Pro-rata, DOE) |
| Location | London / Bournemouth, United Kingdom (Hybrid Mode) |
| Department | Assets |
| Job Status | Live Job |
Company Overview & Philosophy
At Outpost VFX, we specialize in creating breathtaking visual effects for major film and episodic projects. We operate under the core philosophy that the way we work fundamentally shapes the quality of the work we produce. Our mission is to move beyond the traditional VFX house model and cultivate a creative environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to make a positive impact daily.
While we are an ambitious and rapidly growing studio, our primary focus remains on nurturing genuine personal connections. We support one another through technical challenges and make a concerted effort to celebrate our collective successes as a team. We are constantly seeking ways to enhance the experience for our crew, our clients, and the wider world.
The Role: Senior Rigging Artist
We are seeking a seasoned Senior Rigging Artist for a short-term contract to join our Assets Department. This role is vital for translating static digital models into dynamic, expressive characters and creatures ready for high-end production.
The ideal candidate will hit the ground running, designing and building efficient, production-ready rigs that can withstand the rigors of a large-scale VFX pipeline. You will work at the intersection of technical engineering and artistic movement, ensuring that every asset performs predictably and realistically.
Key Responsibilities
1. Rig Design and Development
- Production-Ready Rigs: Architect and construct complex rigs for a variety of assets, including humanoid characters, intricate creatures, facial systems, and mechanical props.
- Deformation Systems: Implement high-quality deformation systems through expert skin weighting, corrective shapes (PSD), and the integration of muscle and blendshape systems.
- Facial Rigging: Create sophisticated facial rigs using joint-based, blendshape-based, or hybrid approaches to achieve a high degree of expressive fidelity.
2. Pipeline Integration & Optimization
- Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with the Modeling department to ensure geometry is rig-ready, and partner with Animation, CFX, and Pipeline teams to ensure seamless data flow.
- Performance Tuning: Troubleshoot and optimize existing rigs to ensure stability and high-performance playback within the Maya viewport.
- Scalable Structures: Maintain clean and highly organized rig structures and naming conventions that adhere to established studio and versioning standards.
3. Tooling and Support
- Automation: Write and maintain custom rigging tools and automation scripts, primarily using Python, to streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
- Artist Support: Provide direct technical support to the animation team, fixing rig-related issues and implementing enhancements based on animator feedback.
- Documentation: Maintain technical documentation for tools and rig systems to facilitate knowledge sharing within the department.
Required Skills & Experience
1. Technical Mastery
- Software Expertise: Possess expert-level knowledge of Autodesk Maya, the industry standard for our rigging workflows.
- Anatomical Knowledge: Demonstrate a profound understanding of human and animal anatomy, including bone structures, muscle movement, and general deformation principles.
- Scripting Proficiency: Deep experience in Python scripting for the development of rigging tools and pipeline automation.
2. Specialized Rigging Knowledge
- Deformation Workflows: Proven experience with advanced skinning techniques and the creation of complex body and facial rigs.
- Workflow Sensitivity: A strong understanding of animation workflows and the specific technical needs of animators in a high-pressure production environment.
- Problem Solving: The ability to debug complex technical issues and provide solutions under tight production deadlines.
Equal Opportunity Statement
At Outpost, we believe that our strength lies in our differences. These varying perspectives allow us to challenge norms and create a unique environment built on mutual respect. Outpost is an equal opportunities employer. Employment is based on talent and potential; no candidate will receive less favorable treatment based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual preference, or any other factor unrelated to job performance.
Application Process
If you believe Outpost is a good fit for your career goals, or if you simply want to learn more about our culture and this role, we encourage you to get in touch today. We look forward to reviewing your reel and discussing how you can contribute to our Assets team.
