Rigging Lead

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 have an incredible opportunity for a strong Rigging Lead who is driven to deliver high-end creative content on a premium streaming series for Marvel Animation.

In this critical technical and creative role, you will help your tight-knit team push boundaries to provide the animation department with exceptional tools. You aren't just building skeletons; you are empowering animators to create outstanding performances in iconic characters. If you have a deep understanding of anatomy, a passion for raising the standard of character performance, and a talent for leading artists through complex rigging/asset challenges, we want you to lead our team.

In this role, success looks like:

Rig Creation & Artistic Sensibility:

• Take a hands-on approach to creating or revising complex character and prop rigs when necessary.
• Apply a deep understanding of human and animal anatomy, musculature, and movement to every asset.
• Bring a strong artistic sensitivity to the technical process, ensuring rigs support the creative aspects of animation, such as line, shape, and appealing deformation.

Team Leadership & Mentorship:

• Organize, manage, and provide ongoing training and guidance to the rigging team.
• Act as a supportive, approachable leader. Keep communication clear and focused on solutions, ensuring your artists feel heard and respected even when production deadlines are tight.
• Act as a motivational force who can realistically balance the demands of the production schedule with the well-being and needs of the team.

Pipeline & Technical Problem Solving:

• Troubleshoot and proactively fix technical problems encountered by rigging artists and animators during production.
• Continually research and recommend new rigging techniques or workflows to improve departmental productivity.
• Clearly define, document, and communicate technical standards and techniques for the rigging pipeline.

Cross-Department Collaboration:

• Collaborate effectively with department supervisors, leads, and other production teams to map out workflows and find elegant solutions that produce high-quality character performances.

The Requirements

Must-Haves:

• Experience: 5+ years of production experience rigging within a Maya pipeline.
• Technical Fundamentals: A strong technical foundation and an excellent understanding of overall CG pipeline processes.
• Core Languages: Proficient knowledge of Linux and Python is strongly desired.
• Artistic Eye: Deep knowledge of anatomy and mechanics, paired with the passion to take rigging to the next level to elevate character performance.
• Leadership Style: You lead with empathy and practical problem-solving, balancing technical excellence with team support.
• Eligibility: Legally eligible to work in British Columbia,Canada.

Nice-to-Haves:

• 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: $80,000 - $95,000, based on your experience and skills.