Animator (Contract)

Dreamscape Learn, a pioneer in the realm of immersive virtual reality learning design, is actively seeking a creative and skilled Animator to bring life, movement, and emotion to characters, creatures, and environments in our virtual worlds. If you are passionate about creating captivating animations and have experience in entertainment, this is your chance to make a lasting impact on immersive storytelling.

This is a 1099 contract role.

Role and Responsibilities

• Create high-quality animations, including character performances, environmental movements, and dynamic simulations, optimized for VR.
• Collaborate with character riggers, modelers, and designers to ensure animations are smooth, natural, and aligned with the project vision.
• Animate a wide range of assets, including characters, props, and creatures, using keyframe animation and/or motion capture data.
• Work closely with technical artists to implement and refine animations within real-time engines, specifically in Unity.
• Troubleshoot and optimize animations to maintain performance without sacrificing visual fidelity in VR environments.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions, providing creative input on movement styles and animation direction.
• Adapt to evolving project requirements, ensuring deadlines are met while maintaining high artistic standards.
• Test and iterate on animations to ensure they perform well in various VR scenarios and lighting conditions.

• 3 years of experience in animation for entertainment (games, film, animation, or VR).
• Proficiency in animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max.
• Experience with Unity, particularly in integrating and optimizing real-time animations.
• Strong research skills with the ability to source, analyze, and creatively interpret historical, scientific, and existing references to inform artistic work.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, including timing, weight, and posing.
• Ability to create both realistic and stylized animations depending on the project’s artistic style.
• Familiarity with character rigging and skinning workflows.
• Problem-solving skills to troubleshoot animation and performance issues.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work effectively in a cross-functional team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience creating assets optimized for both high-end and low-end devices, ensuring performance and visual quality across various platforms. 
• Experience with motion capture data cleanup and integration.
• Knowledge of facial animation techniques and workflows.
• Experience in animation for VR/AR or other real-time interactive platforms.
• Scripting knowledge (e.g., Python, MEL) to streamline animation workflows.

Monthly rate: $7,500-$9,000/mo (DOE)

Dreamscape is firmly committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from all eligible candidates.