Facial Animator — Space Sim AAA Studio in Manchester

We are a crowdfunded company and have a dedicated and enthusiastic community of backers who are helping us create the “Best Damn Space Sim Ever”. We want to build the best we can deliver and we believe wholeheartedly in the value of exceptional diverse talent. Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA games. CIG prides itself in thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity and developing ground-breaking technology. CIG believes in raising the bar for the gaming industry and the community as a whole.

About the Role: As a Facial Animator, you will be part of a team of Facial Animators dedicated to bringing to life the facial and dialogue performances of all characters at CIG. You’ll be creating realistic, industry leading facial animation from high-quality head cam footage of top talent, as well as hand-keyed animation as and where required. Our team is also involved in all performance captured shoots that take place in our in‑house motion capture stage. This means face to face contact with our actors on set and collaboration with all other supporting teams including the Motion Capture team and Audio department.

What do our Facial Animators do?

• Create stunning 1 to 1 facial animation with the use of Faceware’s Mark IV hardware and software.
• Create realistic facial animation using traditional hand‑key techniques.
• Represent the department on performance capture shoots.
• Work with the Animation Director, Facial Animation Lead, and senior animators on implementing facial animations within the game engine.
• Bring new ideas to the table to develop the pipeline procedure.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues that might arise.
• Collaborate with other departments throughout the CIG studios.

What do we expect from our Facial Animators?

• Advanced knowledge of Maya, MotionBuilder, and other equivalent software.
• Experienced in using Faceware’s tracking and retargeting process, or equivalent software.
• Ability to create fluid, smooth, realistic animations with 3D characters. This must be demonstrated within a showreel.
• Ability to gather, analyse, and act on feedback from the team, openness to critique and willingness to improve.
• Ability to identify technical and developmental risks and obstacles while creating innovative solutions to overcome them.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well with others, including those outside of the department.
• Eager to challenge your own ideas and those of your peers – we thrive to be the best!

Diversity Statement: CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it’s our differences that make it special.

Fraud Statement: We are aware of people receiving job offers that fraudulently allege to be from CIG. These types of fraud can be carried out through false websites, fake email addresses claiming to be from our company, or social media. We do not ask for your personal info like bank account numbers, identification numbers, etc through social media or chat-based apps, nor do we request or send money for the purchase of business equipment. If you suspect fraud, please report it to your local authorities, as well as reaching out to us at info[@]cloudimperiumgames.com with any information you may.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!