Job Title:Expert Facial Technical Artist - Sledgehammer GamesRequisition ID:R025749:Your PlatformSledgehammer Games is looking for talented developers to join us as a member of our California team. This group will partner with our global teams in Toronto, Canada and Melbourne, Australia in the creation of epic content for some of the biggest games in the world. This is an opportunity to work with a strong AAA team, adding new skills to your armory while gaining the unique satisfaction that comes from building something new. Join us in our quest to maintain and improve a healthy and inspiring studio culture! The studio is navigating its second decade of game development, focused on constant evolution, innovation and qualified risk-taking – which are some of the most rewarding aspects of game development. With world-class content production and engineering teams, we’ve been able to achieve some of the highest-quality game execution of any studio in the industry. We love what we do and work hard to make sure that each new game we make is even better than the last. Creativity is key, and we’re looking for talented game developers for our exciting new projects. Sledgehammer Games is part of the Activision family and is wholly owned by Microsoft. To learn more about our studio, please visit us at www.sledgehammergames.com or search for Sledgehammer Games on your favorite social media platform. Your Mission As an Expert Facial Technical Artist, you will play a pivotal role in designing and enhancing our advanced facial animation tools suite, which enables highly realistic portrayals of actors’ performances.The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience delivering end-to-end facial performance solutions for games, film, or related media, along with a comprehensive understanding of the entire pipeline—including data acquisition, photogrammetry, facial deformation, rigging, and skin and eye shaders. We seek an individual who excels at fostering collaboration between creative animation teams and technical engineering groups, with a commitment to both on-screen excellence and efficient development workflows. If you are eager to advance your expertise and collaborate with leading professionals in the industry, Sledgehammer Games offers an outstanding environment for your career growth.Given the dynamic nature of our work, priorities may shift rapidly. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Driving technological solutions that enhance quality and workflow efficiency to achieve industry-leading results.Converting visual and performance objectives into actionable toolsets, pipelines, and runtime requirements.Leveraging current technologies to maximize their potential within our processes.Contributing to the scalable development of production pipelines.Researching and advising on new and emerging technologies with practical application in our field.Facilitating communication and collaboration with internal teams to integrate innovative solutions.Partnering with engineers and artists to realize creative visions in performance animation.Player ProfileMinimum Requirements:Over 10 years of hands-on experience with facial technologies in games, film, or similar sectorsProficient understanding of facial animation and scanning pipelinesBachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent professional experienceAdvanced technical skills in MayaStrong proficiency in PythonSolid understanding of shader developmentExcellent communicator and effective collaboratorDeep passion for the gaming industryExtra Points:Modeling and drawing skillsStrong demo reel showcasing dynamic character rigs and hair/cloth simulationProgramming experience (e.g. C++, C#)Our World At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences. We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization. We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up. Ready to Activate Your Future? The video game industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners. Sledgehammer Games is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.RewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $97,200.00 - $179,900.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.