Tech Artist / Tech Animator / 3D Generalist

About the role

This role involves the technical artistry behind character implementation in game development, specifically focusing on adapting 3D assets for diverse character models. The work includes initial skinning for multiple skeletons and refitting assets for characters with anatomical differences, including unisex armor elements. A key aspect is managing morph targets and cloth simulation within UE5 to ensure visual fidelity across character variations.

The position requires a hands-on approach to material slot management, enabling the selection and merging of various combinations for morph targets and cloth simulations into a single mesh. This ensures that character assets are optimized and function correctly within the game engine. Adaptability for MetaHuman (MH) integration is also part of the responsibilities, indicating a need for familiarity with advanced character pipelines.

Success in this role means efficiently preparing and integrating character assets into UE5, ensuring they are technically sound and visually consistent. The focus is on the practical application of 3D art skills to solve character rigging and animation challenges, contributing directly to the visual quality and performance of game characters.

The stated salary for full-time work ranges from $1200 to $3200 per month, with an hourly option between $750 and $2000 for project-based work.

Skills that matter here

• 3D modeling: The role requires basic 3D modeling skills to support character asset creation and adaptation.
• Maya: Proficiency in Maya, or similar 3D software, is essential for creating and manipulating character assets.
• UE5: Extensive work with Unreal Engine 5 is central, particularly for cloth simulation and material management.
• rigging: Basic rigging skills, specifically skeleton setup without control creation, are needed for character preparation.
• skin weighting: Initial skinning and skin weighting are core responsibilities for character articulation.
• Chaos Cloth: Setting up Chaos Cloth in UE5 is a specific technical requirement for realistic fabric simulation.

Who this role suits

• A person who enjoys the technical challenges of bringing 3D characters to life within a game engine.
• Someone with a meticulous eye for detail, particularly in how character assets deform and interact.
• An individual who thrives in a remote setting and can manage project-based work effectively.
• A practitioner who is comfortable with both the artistic and technical aspects of 3D character pipelines.

From the employer

Responsibilities

• Initial skinning on several skeletons;
• Refitting for several characters (anatomical differences);
• Including unisex armor elements refitting for both genders;
• Working with morph targets and cloth simulation in UE5;
• Working with material slots (selecting various combinations to merge in one mesh of morph targets / cloth simulation);
• Adapting for MH.

Requirements

• Proficient in any 3D modeling software (Maya, 3ds Max, Blender);
• Proficiency in UE5 at an artist level;
• Basic modeling skills;
• Basic rigging (without creating controls, just skeleton) and skinning;
• Setting up Chaos Cloth in UE5;
• Experience with scripting (from weight copying to multi-refitting and multi-clip fixing) is a huge plus;
• Ability to work with Git is also a plus.

Conditions

• Salary: $1200 - $3200 for full-time, or $750 - $2000 per hour;
• Employment type: full-time/part-time, for a specific project (from 3 months);