At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and optimise character rigs and animation systems for groundbreaking AI-driven games.
- 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 - 50000 £ 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
Mid-Snr Level Generalist Artist 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 Mid-Snr Level Generalist Artist, you will have the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects that redefine player experiences, all while enjoying a collaborative culture in our London-based team. With a focus on personal growth and innovation, we empower our employees to take ownership of their work and tackle meaningful challenges in the exciting realm of AI-driven characters.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mid-Snr Level Generalist Artist
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in tip-top shape! Showcase your best rigging and animation work, especially projects that highlight your problem-solving skills. Make sure to include any collaborative projects to show how well you work with others.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events or online meetups where you can connect with other artists and engineers. Don’t be shy—reach out to people on LinkedIn or Twitter and engage with their work. You never know who might have a lead on a job!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with rigging and animation systems, and don’t forget to mention any scripting languages you know. Practice explaining your thought process when tackling technical challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Iconic. Let’s build something amazing together!
We think you need these skills to ace Mid-Snr Level Generalist Artist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about building digital actors and pushing the boundaries of interactive media. Share your personal experiences or projects that relate to our mission.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight the skills and experiences that align with what we're looking for. Mention specific tools you've used, like Maya or Unity, and how you've tackled challenges in rigging and animation systems. This helps us see how you'd fit into our team!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon unless it's necessary. Use bullet points if it helps convey your skills and experiences better. Remember, we want to understand your journey without getting lost in the details!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Iconic!
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, and maybe even show off a portfolio piece that highlights your skills.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Since this role is all about bridging art and engineering, prepare examples of how you've tackled technical challenges in past projects. Think about specific instances where you optimised a pipeline or solved a tricky rigging issue, and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
This position requires a lot of teamwork, so be prepared to discuss how you’ve worked with artists, designers, and engineers in the past. Highlight any collaborative projects and how you ensured everyone was on the same page, especially when it came to integrating assets into the engine.
✨Stay Updated on Emerging Tech
Given the focus on AI-driven characters, it’s a good idea to brush up on the latest trends in AI-assisted animation and procedural systems. Mention any relevant experiences or interests you have in these areas, as it shows you're forward-thinking and passionate about the industry.
