Rigging Artists - (Junior, Mid, Senior)

At Stellar, we aim to build a studio where people actually want to work. We face production’s inevitable ups and downs as a supportive, truly connected team, prioritizing open communication over anyone working in isolation. We value honesty, creativity, and looking out for one another.

The Opportunity:
We are expanding our team and looking for talented Rigging Artists at the Junior, Mid, and Senior levels to deliver high-end creative content on a premium streaming series for Marvel Animation.

In this critical technical and creative role, you aren't just building skeletons; you are empowering animators to create outstanding performances in iconic characters. Working closely with the Rigging Lead, you will apply a deep understanding of anatomy, musculature, and movement to build robust, animator-friendly rigs. If you have a passion for raising the standard of character performance and love solving technical puzzles, we want you on our team.

In this role, success looks like:

Rig Creation & Artistic Sensibility:

• Create, test, and maintain robust character, creature, and prop rigs that meet the specific needs of the animation department. 
• Apply a deep understanding of human and animal anatomy, musculature, and mechanics to every asset you touch.
• Bring a strong artistic sensitivity to the technical process, ensuring your rigs support the creative aspects of animation, such as line, shape, and appealing deformation.

Technical Problem Solving:

• Troubleshoot and proactively fix technical problems encountered by animators using your rigs during active production.
• Utilize Python scripting to automate repetitive tasks, build custom tools, and improve your own rigging efficiency.
• Ensure all rigs are optimized to run smoothly within the Maya pipeline without slowing down the production floor.

Collaboration & Accountability:

• Act as a collaborative partner to the Animation and Modeling departments, working elegantly back and forth to solve mesh or deformation issues.
• Consistently meet delivery deadlines and manage your task load effectively within Flow Production Tracking.
• Actively participate in dailies and department reviews, taking constructive feedback gracefully from your Rigging Lead and CG/VFX Supervisors. (Seniors will be expected to help mentor and guide Junior artists).

The Requirements

Must-Haves:

• Experience :
  • Junior: 1–2+ years of production experience. You have a solid grasp of Maya rigging fundamentals, a strong portfolio demonstrating good deformation, and are eager to learn.
  • Mid-Level: 3–5+ years of production experience. You can hit the ground running, build complex rigs with minimal supervision, and have working Python knowledge.
  • Senior: 5+ years of production experience. You are an expert at rigging complex hero assets, highly proficient in Python/scripting, and are comfortable mentoring junior artists and helping the Lead optimize workflows.
• Technical Fundamentals: A strong technical foundation in Maya rigging and an excellent understanding of overall CG pipeline processes.
• Artistic Eye: Deep knowledge of anatomy, joint placement, and mechanics, paired with the passion to elevate character performance.
• Eligibility: Legally eligible to work in British Columbia, Canada.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Proficient knowledge of Linux and Python (Strongly desired for Juniors/Mids; Required for Seniors).
• Working knowledge of PyQt.
• Production experience with Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid) for tracking and task management.

• Flexible Environment: We offer a flexible hybrid schedule that will vary with project and team requirements. 
• Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health benefits.
• Growth: Professional development support to help you stay ahead of tech and creative trends.
• Culture: A collaborative, ego-free environment where technical expertise fuels creative magic.
• Competitive salary range: $57,000 - $90,000, based on your experience and skills.