Harmonix Music Systems is the creator of award-winning console titles Frequency, Amplitude, Karaoke Revolution, EyeToy:AntiGrav and the latest smash hit, Guitar Hero. Located in the dynamic heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harmonix was founded in 1995 with roots from the MIT Media Lab. Our world-class team shares a love of music and works as a team with strong collaboration across diverse disciplines. All team members have say in game design and share creative responsibility for our innovative titles. Flexibility and good communication skills are essential to our working style. Our projects have all been completed on time and on budget, and have received international acclaim. Harmonix offers a competitive benefits package and is an equal opportunity employer.
Character Technical Director
Harmonix places supreme emphasis on our characters. Character skinning and animation rigs have become one of the most complex systems of our games. Our Character Technical Artists enable our models to ROCK and they provide articulation in the hands in order to play musical instruments. We are always looking for new ways to skin and deform character geometry to look amazing. Character Technical Artists drive the abilities of our characters to achieve greatness.
Responsibilities
- Create custom tools to solve rigging problems
- Create custom bipedal rigs for our rock star characters
- Invent new techniques for deforming character geometry
- Work with musicians to articulate characters’ bodies to control their instruments
- Work quickly and effectively and contribute to character team progress
- Interface with other artists including the Lead, Production and Technical artists
- Help to develop a character art production pipeline
- Share your skills with other character modelers and technical artists
Qualifications
- MaxScript or equivalent experience
- Custom tool development to solve rigging problems
- 2+ years game industry experience as a Character Rigger or Technical Director
- Experience with Character physics and dynamic simulations, a plus
- Self-starting and organized
- Solid understanding of game creation limitations/dependencies
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
- Ability and willingness to create games that do not follow traditional game-art styles.
- A love of music and an openness to new music
- BFA from accredited college
Sample Work Required
- List of games shipped, with details of your position and contribution
- Website or CD/DVD with your work including Models, Maps, Etc. (website preferred)
Interested candidates should send email to artjobs@harmonixmusic.com.
No phone calls, please.
Harmonix Music Systems
http://www.harmonixmusic.com
675 Massachusetts Avenue
6th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA