At Steamroller Animation, we are a passionate, collaborative, and fun-loving team dedicated to working on the most exciting projects globally. We prioritize an atmosphere where artists can grow and thrive. If you are a leader seeking to contribute to a next-generation entertainment experience, we encourage you to join our crew!
The Opportunity: Lead Animator (FACS & Motion Capture)
We are seeking an experienced Lead Animator to guide the creative and technical execution of animation for a hyper-realistic virtual performer in a live musical experience. This pivotal contract role requires a leader with a strong artistic sensibility and deep technical fluency in both FACS (Facial Action Coding System) and Motion Capture (Mocap) cleanup. You will ensure the seamless, high-quality integration of expressive facial performance and dynamic body motion.
Detail
Information
Position Type
Contract
Location
Remote (British Columbia preferred due to tax credit requirements; Open Globally)
Start Date
TBC February/March 2026
Key Responsibilities (What You’ll Do)
Focus Area
Core Tasks
Team Leadership
Provide clear direction, actionable feedback, and mentorship to animators specializing in facial and mocap cleanup.
Artistic Quality
Collaborate closely with the Animation Supervisor and Directors to uphold the project’s artistic vision and high quality standards.
Review & Refinement
Review and refine animation work, ensuring technical excellence, performance authenticity, and consistency across both facial and body motion.
Hands-On Work
Work on high-complexity animation tasks as needed, producing polished, realistic performances that merge emotional nuance with physical accuracy.
Workflow & Pipeline
Support development of animation workflows and best practices for facial solving, mocap cleanup, and real-time integration.
Management
Partner with Production to manage team priorities, monitor deadlines, and ensure efficient, timely delivery of all animation assets.
Collaboration
Communicate effectively with Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams to troubleshoot data and optimize pipelines.
Qualifications & Expertise
Required Qualifications
Category
Details
Experience
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in film, games, or real-time animation production.
Core Expertise
Proven experience in both motion capture cleanup and FACS-based facial animation workflows.
Artistic Skills
Strong understanding of animation principles, body mechanics, and emotional performance.
Software
Proficiency in Autodesk Maya. MotionBuilder experience is highly valued.
Leadership
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills; ability to translate artistic vision into clear, achievable team goals.
Troubleshooting
Ability to troubleshoot creatively and technically while maintaining efficiency under tight timelines.
Real-Time
Working knowledge of Unreal Engine and Sequencer is preferred.
Preferred (But Not Required) Qualifications
Qualification
Advantage
Project Type
Experience working on realistic human animation or performance-driven projects.
Technology
Familiarity with 4D capture or virtual production workflows.
Mentorship
Strong mentoring ability and active interest in team development.
Passion
Passion for realism and pushing the boundaries of real-time animation.
