At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and optimise character rigs and animation systems for AI-driven digital actors.
- Company: Join a pioneering team at the forefront of AI and interactive entertainment.
- Benefits: High ownership, direct impact, and collaboration in a dynamic London-based environment.
- Other info: Work on meaningful challenges and collaborate closely with a small, passionate team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming with innovative technology and creative storytelling.
- Qualifications: Experience in rigging, animation, and scripting; strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 55000 £ per year.
About Iconic: We’re building digital actors: AI-driven characters that don’t just talk, but act; shaping the world, responding to the player, and driving stories that evolve through both words and actions.
The Mission: We believe games and interactive media are on the verge of a fundamental shift. Today’s experiences are largely scripted, characters follow predefined paths, and player choice is limited. We’re building systems that change that: digital actors that can think, communicate, and take action in real time. Our goal is to create worlds that are truly alive—where stories emerge from interaction, and every player experience is unique. Recent advances in AI make this possible for the first time. The challenge now is turning that potential into real, scalable systems that people can play.
The Role: We’re looking for a Technical Artist with a strong focus on rigging and animation systems to help bridge the gap between art and engineering. You’ll play a key role in building performant, scalable character and animation pipelines, while also contributing hands‑on to asset creation when needed. This is a hybrid role: equal parts problem-solver, pipeline builder, and creative collaborator. You’ll be central to how characters and animation come to life in our projects, ensuring they not only look great but behave reliably in a real-time environment. Your work will directly impact both creative expression and technical performance.
What You’ll Do:
- Rigging & Animation Systems
- Create high-quality rigs for characters, creatures, and props (biped, quadruped, stylized, etc.)
- Build and maintain animation systems (state machines, blend trees, procedural layers)
- Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs are intuitive, flexible, and production‑ready
- Implement animation assets into engine (Unity/Unreal), ensuring fidelity and performance
- Troubleshoot deformation, skinning, and runtime animation issues
- Pipeline & Tools
- Develop and improve rigging/animation pipelines and workflows
- Create tools/scripts (Python, C#, or similar) to streamline production
- Work closely with engineering to integrate animation tech (IK systems, physics, runtime solvers)
- Optimize assets and systems for performance across target platforms
- Art Collaboration
- Partner with artists, designers, and engineers to ensure assets meet technical constraints
- Support asset integration and validation in engine
- Provide guidance on best practices for animation, rigging, and asset setup
What We’re Looking For:
- Core Skills
- Strong experience in rigging and skinning (Maya, Blender, or equivalent)
- Solid understanding of animation principles and workflows
- Experience implementing animation systems in Unity or Unreal Engine
- Good understanding of real-time constraints and performance considerations
- Technical Ability
- Scripting experience (Python, MEL, C#, or similar)
- Experience building or maintaining art pipelines/tools
- Comfortable debugging technical issues across DCC tools and game engines
- Art Fundamentals
- Understanding of anatomy, deformation, and motion
- Willingness to jump into modelling/texturing tasks when needed
- Mindset
- Problem-solver who enjoys bridging art and code
- Collaborative and communicative across disciplines
- Pragmatic: balances quality, performance, and production realities
Nice to Have:
- Experience with procedural animation systems or runtime rigging
- Knowledge of physics-based animation or simulation
- Familiarity with version control (Git, Perforce)
- Experience with VFX Graph / Niagara / shader workflows
- Interest in emerging tech (AI-assisted animation, runtime generation)
Why Join Us:
- Build at the frontier of AI and interactive entertainment
- High ownership and direct impact in a small team
- Work on technically challenging, meaningful problems
- Help shape how characters and animation behave in a new kind of interactive system
- London-based team with in-person collaboration
Technical Artist in London employer: Kindredventures
At Iconic, we are at the forefront of revolutionising interactive media, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. As a Technical Artist, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with a passionate team in London, tackling meaningful challenges that directly influence the future of AI-driven characters. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and innovation, we foster a culture of collaboration and ownership, ensuring that your contributions are valued and impactful.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Artist in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those who work at companies like Iconic. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your rigging and animation work. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your best projects. We love seeing how you bridge art and engineering, so let your creativity shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with tools like Maya or Blender, and how you’ve tackled real-time performance issues. We want to see your problem-solving mindset in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who are excited about shaping the future of interactive media. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Artist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with rigging and animation systems. We want to see how you've tackled similar challenges in the past, so don’t hold back on showcasing your best work!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your application for this role. Mention specific projects or experiences that align with our mission of creating digital actors and real-time interactions. It’ll show us you’re genuinely interested!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to understand. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role—let your skills shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kindredventures
✨Know Your Tools Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the software and tools mentioned in the job description, like Maya, Blender, Unity, or Unreal Engine. Be ready to discuss your experience with rigging, skinning, and animation systems, as well as any scripts you've created to streamline production.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled technical challenges in previous projects. Whether it’s debugging a complex rig or optimising an animation pipeline, demonstrating your problem-solving mindset will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with artists, designers, and engineers, be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated across disciplines in the past. Highlight any experiences where your communication skills helped bridge gaps between art and engineering.
✨Stay Updated on Emerging Tech
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI-assisted animation and procedural systems. Showing genuine interest in emerging technologies can set you apart and demonstrate that you’re not just looking for a job, but are passionate about the future of interactive media.
