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 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 provide a unique platform for you to develop your skills while making a significant impact in the gaming industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Artist
✨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 skills 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
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with rigging and animation systems in your application. We want to see how you've tackled similar challenges before, so don’t hold back on showcasing your best work!
Be a Problem Solver:In your written application, share examples of how you've bridged the gap between art and engineering. We love a good problem-solver, so let us know how you’ve tackled technical issues in the past.
Keep It Relevant:Tailor your application to our mission of creating digital actors. Mention any experience you have with AI or real-time systems, as this will show us you're aligned with what we're building here at Iconic.
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!
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 and animation systems, and maybe even bring along a portfolio showcasing your best work.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Since this role is all about bridging art and engineering, prepare examples of how you've tackled technical challenges in the past. Think about specific instances where you optimised pipelines or solved rigging issues, and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
This position requires a lot of teamwork, so be prepared to talk about your collaborative experiences. Share stories about how you’ve worked with animators, artists, and engineers to create seamless workflows and ensure that assets meet technical constraints.
✨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. Showing your enthusiasm for emerging technologies can set you apart and demonstrate your commitment to innovation in the field.
