Technical Director, Animation (W/M/NB) [Assassin's Creed Franchise]

Ubisoft Annecy

Founded in 1996, Ubisoft Annecy has developed many sagas, especially on Splinter Cell, Assassin’s Creed®, while focusing on multiplayer online and social aspects, and also on concrete game mandates such as Tom Clancy’s: The Division 2® and Ghost Recon Wildlands. We are now proud to have developed our own IP, Steep and more recently Riders Republic!

On top of our AAA production, we are working on innovation with a technological expertise hub around the Snowdrop engine pipeline, and Technology Group in collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal.

Located in one of the most dynamic regions of France, our Ubisoft studio is settled between lake and mountains, in the middle of Annecy, also known as the Venice of the Alps, 30 minutes away from Geneva International Airport. Having a studio with perpetual growth, we are focusing on our team members' commitment and team work. Our ambition relies on innovation and excellence with an ultimate purpose: our players' satisfaction!

Directly under the responsibility of the Technical Director of the brand, you will be responsible for determining, preparing and adapting the tools that will be used during production on the Animation, Animation graph side.

Responsibilities:

• You will define the projects and improvements to the existing pipeline (Cinematics, Ingame Animation, Motion Capture, Ragdoll, Facial, Rig ..)
• Develop or find the best tools and methods to improve and facilitate the work of Animators.
• Optimize the animation graph and architecture
• Support the animation team on a daily basis to solve their technical problems and help them make decisions to optimize ingame animation graphs.
• Technical Guarantor of the respect of the constraints established in partnership with the other trades (memory, FPS, on the different platforms)
• Produce tools, methods, training, processes and engine constraints documents for future reference
• Coordinate and act as interlocutor between the animation team and the Technical and artistic innovation motive you, it will be what we expect to achieve the high level of quality programming team
• Communicate regularly the technical constraints to the animation team
• Be the technical point of contact for technical problems related to animations
• Perform other related duties

• Solid experience as Animation Technical Director (in the video game industry preferably)
• Excellent knowledge of real-time animation systems and video games and/or pipeline development
• Excellent knowledge of Motion Builder and/or Maya, plus ideally Motion Capture Body and Facial
• Excellent knowledge of python
• Knowledge of another DCC (Maya, 3DS max, Blender)
• Ability to work in a team and to take up challenges.
• Fluent English is essential to carry out your missions (French is a plus)
• Knowledge in Rigging / Ragdoll (Havok) is a plus

Ubisoft’s 19,000 team members, working across more than 30 countries around the world, are bound by a common mission to enrich players’ lives with original and memorable gaming experiences. Their commitment and talent have brought to life many acclaimed franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Just Dance, Rainbow Six, and many more to come.

Ubisoft is an equal opportunity employer that believes diverse backgrounds and perspectives are key to creating worlds where both players and teams can thrive and express themselves. If you are excited about solving game-changing challenges, cutting edge technologies, and pushing the boundaries of entertainment, we invite you to join our journey and help us create the unknown.

Ubisoft is committed to creating an inclusive work environment that reflects the diversity of our player community. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability status.

All information will be treated as confidential in accordance with the Employment Equity Act.

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