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Get a job: Insomniac Games is hiring a Facial Character TD

Insomniac is looking for a rockstar Facial Character TD’s to be responsible for authoring facial rigs and facial riggings systems from scratch or utilizing a variety of high-resolution scan-data.

January 20, 2021

3 Min Read
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Facial Character TD, Insomniac Games

Location: Burbank, California

We are looking for a rockstar Facial Character TD’s to be responsible for authoring facial rigs and facial riggings systems from scratch or utilizing a variety of high-resolution scan-data.  This role will participate in facial research & development efforts; pioneer and recommend new tools, techniques and technology for pushing visual boundaries, performance and efficiency; and seek to continuously push the state of the art. If this sounds like you, please read on! 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

  • Authors high quality photorealistic facial rigs based on FACS using blendshapes

  • Authors rigging systems to augment or support blendshape-based facial rigs

  • Authors or contributes to systems/workflows for integrating head and body rigs

  • Collaborates with Character Art, Animation, and Engineering teams to deliver the highest quality assets with animator/mocap friendly interfaces that run smoothly in engine. 

  • Contributes to tools for authoring and editing facial rigs (python/pyqt/pyside)

  • Contributes to automated tools and workflows for runtime optimization (i.e. smooth skinning decomposition, etc)

  • Contributes to tools for ingesting 3rd party facial rigs

  • Contributes to facial animation systems such as facial solvers and R&D (python/C++/Machine Learning)

  • Sculpts FACS (from scratch if necessary) using deformers and/or sculpting tools

  • Designs supporting facial rigging systems such as sticky-lips and corneal bulge

  • Processes and cleans 3D or 4D scan data from FACS sessions, and extracts useful information such as wrinkle and bloodflow maps

  • Focuses on performance optimization for runtime

  • Keeps up with state-of-the-art approaches to facial rigging for photorealistic characters in film and games

  • Has strong understanding of facial shape transfer techniques and ability to implement shape transfer pipelines

  • May be asked to direct actors through FACS during facial acquisitions.

  • May ingest and integrate facial assets from 3rd parties.

  • May be expected to maintain relationships and provide feedback to external vendors

  • Other duties may be assigned

Education/Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; or five to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • One to four years of experience in character setup, Python scripting, a familiarity with MEL and a comprehensive understanding of all technical aspects of Maya animation.

  • One to two years of animation training covering all basic animation principals.

  • Extensive knowledge of Maya.

Other Skills: Strong understanding of state-of-the-art approaches to rigging photorealistic faces for film or games; of FACS, how it relates to facial anatomy, and ability to identify primary action units on sight; Understands current approaches to facial performance capture & solving; of modern approaches to scanning including lightstage and 4D scanning.

If this sound like the opportunity that you have been looking for - we want to hear from you.  Please use the link below and apply directly to the role.  Don't forget to attach your reel.

Interested? Apply now.

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