Bitmoji Senior 3D Artist - Character Animator

Location: Toronto, Canada

Department: Bitmoji

Employment Type: Full time

About Snap Inc

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

About the Role

Snap Inc is a camera company that believes AR and visual storytelling are revolutionizing how people connect and express themselves. At the heart of Snapchat, Bitmoji empowers users to create personalized avatars that capture their unique style and emotions in real-time AR experiences. We're seeking a Bitmoji Senior 3D Artist - Character Animator to join our innovative Bitmoji team, where you'll craft captivating animations that bring millions of avatars to life across Snapchat, Lens Studio, and Spectacles, enhancing everyday communication through creative AR innovation. In this senior role, you'll lead the creation of high-quality, optimized character animations tailored for real-time playback and viral social sharing. Collaborating with Content Leads, developers, and cross-functional teams, you'll expand our Bitmoji library with expressive facial animations, dynamic body mechanics, and engaging loops that align with Snap's playful visual style. You'll supervise workflows, mentor peers, and drive projects from concept to deployment, ensuring every animation delights users and pushes the boundaries of AR character performance. You'll thrive in Snap's fast-paced, creative culture by delivering superior animations that leverage camera technology for immersive experiences. From refining motion capture data to crafting blend shapes and integrating with game engines, your work will directly impact how people live in the moment on Snapchat. With a passion for Bitmoji and AR, you'll contribute to a dynamic environment that values diverse voices, bold ideas, and 'Default Together' collaboration in our offices 4+ days a week. Snap is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, offering comprehensive benefits like paid parental leave, medical coverage, mental health support, and equity in our success. If you're a 3D animation expert ready to animate the future of personal expression, join us in building the next era of AR communication.

What You'll Do

• Expand our content library by creating Bitmoji character animations that make millions smile daily
• Collaborate with creatives and developers to deliver highest quality animations for Snapchat and AR experiences
• Support Content Leads through assigned supervisory and review tasks
• Assist in organizing processes, workflows, and project allocation for the team
• Lead individual projects and communicate needs and progress to stakeholders
• Create engaging character animations using the Bitmoji avatar in accordance with technical requirements
• Ensure high animation quality, optimization, and suitability for real-time playback and social sharing
• Learn new programs and processes for current and upcoming AR projects
• Participate in art critiques, mentor team members, and communicate production goals
• Understand technical needs of new projects and collaborate across teams
• Continuously evaluate projects’ look, feel, and aesthetics to align with Snap's creative vision

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Animation, or related field or equivalent years of experience
• 5+ years of experience in a 3D character animation role
• Superior knowledge of facial animation (facial movement and portraying different moods) and body mechanics
• A strong 3D design portfolio featuring appealing character acting and body mechanics and superior grasp of composition
• Highly proficient in Maya or other equivalent industry-standard animation software
• Exceptional skills in composition, commitment to highest quality of design and an eye for detail
• Ability to quickly learn new programs and processes

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ shipped titles or projects
• Solid experience with motion capture cleanup workflows such as editing and enhancing raw mocap data
• Experience with Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro and other industry-standard post-production tools
• Experience producing blend shapes (facial expressions and lipsync morph targets), as well as rigging
• Experience working with avatar systems, game engines, or real-time animation pipelines
• Experience with AR and Lens Studio

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Superior facial animation and body mechanics
• Maya or equivalent 3D animation software proficiency
• Composition and detail-oriented design
• Adapting to established visual styles and feedback
• Real-time animation optimization
• Team collaboration and communication
• Organizational and project leadership skills
• Motion capture cleanup workflows
• Blend shape creation for expressions and lipsync
• Post-production with After Effects and Premiere Pro
• Rigging experience
• Game-style animation loops
• Digital illustration and typography
• Avatar systems and real-time pipelines
• AR and Lens Studio knowledge
• Art critique and mentoring
• Technical collaboration across teams

Our Benefits

• Paid parental leave
• Comprehensive medical coverage
• Emotional and mental health support programs
• Compensation packages that share in Snap’s long-term success
• Dynamic collaboration in a 'Default Together' office environment (4+ days per week)
• Opportunities to innovate in camera technology, AR, and Snapchat products
• Support for diverse backgrounds in a creative, inclusive culture
• Resources for personal and professional growth in a fun, innovative community

"Default Together" Policy: At Snap Inc, we practice a "default together" approach and expect team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.