Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) – Contract
Steamroller Animation
Lead the Future of Digital Performance
About Steamroller Animation
At Steamroller Animation, we’re passionate about our craft and committed to working on the coolest projects. We cultivate a welcoming, growth-oriented culture where collaboration and creative excellence thrive. Join our fun-loving bunch and advance your career by contributing to groundbreaking work.
The Opportunity: Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture)
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Animation Supervisor to spearhead the Facial and Motion Capture teams. This critical contract role involves bringing a hyper-realistic virtual performer to life for an ambitious live musical experience. You will be the driving force in uniting facial expressions (FACS), body movement, and emotional authenticity into a cohesive, lifelike digital performance, guiding both creative and technical direction.
| Detail | Information |
| Position Type | Contract |
| Location | Remote (British Columbia preferred due to tax credit requirements; Open Globally) |
| Start Date | TBC February/March 2026 |
Key Leadership Responsibilities (What You’ll Do)
| Focus Area | Core Responsibilities |
| Creative Leadership | Define artistic direction and quality standards for facial and motion capture, ensuring emotionally compelling and lifelike performances. |
| Team Management | Supervise, mentor, and inspire a team of FACS and Mocap Cleanup Animators, providing clear technical and creative guidance. |
| Integration & Review | Review and refine animation to achieve seamless, high-quality integration between facial solving, body motion, and overall performance intent. |
| Pipeline Development | Partner with Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams to improve animation tools, pipelines, and workflows. |
| Cross-Collaboration | Act as the primary Animation representative, communicating team progress and needs effectively in cross-departmental and partner-facing meetings. |
| Workflow Efficiency | Conduct dailies and reviews, delivering concise, actionable feedback. Anticipate and resolve creative/technical challenges to ensure efficient production flow and timely delivery. |
Qualifications & Expertise
Required Qualifications
| Category | Details |
| Experience | Minimum of 8 years of professional animation experience in film, games, or real-time production. |
| Supervisory History | Proven supervisory or lead experience managing animation teams, specifically across both facial and motion capture workflows. |
| Facial Expertise | Expert understanding of FACS, facial anatomy, and performance-driven facial animation. |
| Body Mechanics | Deep knowledge of body mechanics, weight, timing, and naturalistic human movement. |
| Software Skills | Proficiency in Autodesk Maya. Experience with MotionBuilder is highly valued. |
| Pipeline Knowledge | Experience integrating mocap data and facial solving into cinematic or real-time pipelines. Familiarity with Unreal Engine and Sequencer workflows. |
| Leadership Traits | Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Strong ability to manage priorities and delegate effectively. |
Preferred (But Not Required) Qualifications
| Qualification | Value Add |
| Advanced Capture | Experience working with 4D capture, high-fidelity scanned assets, or virtual production pipelines. |
| Project Type | Background in musical, live, or performance-based animation projects. |
| Mentorship | Demonstrated success in mentoring or training animation teams. |
| Innovation | Strong interest in pushing the boundaries of digital performance and real-time storytelling. |
We look forward to reviewing your application and seeing how your expertise can elevate the performance standards at Steamroller Animation.