---
title: 'Senior Artist, Technical (Rigger) - NBA 2K at Visual Concepts'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-artist-technical-rigger-nba-2k-visual-concepts-novato-chs3d34daszv'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Senior Artist, Technical (Rigger) - NBA 2K at Visual Concepts

- **Company:** Visual Concepts
- **Location:** Novato, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-08-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/visualconcepts/jobs/7964938003

## Job description

At Visual Concepts, we believe great games are made by diverse and empowered teams with a shared passion for play. As one of the world’s top game development studios, we have shipped over 100 multi-sku titles to critical acclaim and commercial success. Our teams are independent and entrepreneurial. Our studios in Novato, Irvine, Budapest, Shanghai, Austin, Boise, Seoul, and Parksville, Canada are committed to artistry and technical innovation, offering top candidates the opportunity to learn and grow with some of the smartest and most creative minds in the industry.

The Team:

The NBA Tech Art team is a diverse group of dedicated Technical Artists that perform a wide variety of tasks. We write and maintain tools for the art department, rig the characters, props, and clothing, and do a lot of problem solving.

What We Need:

The Novato team is looking for an expert character rigging artist (temporary) familiar with body and face rigging to work closely with the art team. This role reports to the Lead Technical Artist.

What You Will Do:

- Update our character rigs to improve deformation and more accurately simulate human anatomy
- Create math node networks to make new connections for our body and face rigs
- Implement blendshapes and corrective shapes into our rigs with the support of the character team
- Create clean skinweight and blendweight maps
- Write Python code to automate tasks, create procedural setups, and improve workflow efficiency
- Diagnose, debug, and resolve character rigging related errors across tools and the game
- Collaborate with a team of other technical artists to support art teams directly
- Work closely with engineers and collaborate with multiple art departments to address feedback notes and make art asset requests
- Contribute to documentation, workflows, and pipeline improvements that scale across the team

Who Will Be A Great Fit:

- Strong expertise in Autodesk Maya
- Strong understanding of human anatomy and deformation
- Working knowledge of Scripting in Python/PyMel
- Familiar with Facial Action Coding System (FACS) based rigs
- Familiar with joint placement and designing skeleton setups
- Experience in creating character rigs that are optimized for games
- Knowledge of good topology and proper edge-flow to create natural deformation
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Love for video games (not just ours!)

Nice To Have:

- Working with NgSkinTools for weight painting
- Familiar creating UIs with Qt
- Experience with version control (Perforce)
- Experience creating jiggle joints or other dynamic simulation setups
- Programming using Maya Python API

US (All States except for WA)

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $54 - $75 per hour. The pay range for this position in New York at the start of employment is expected to be between $48 - $68 per hour. The pay range for this position in New Jersey at the start of employment is expected to be between $48 - $68 per hour. The pay range for this position in Maryland at the start of employment is expected to be between $48 - $68 per hour.The pay range for this position in Colorado at the start of employment is expected to be between $48 - $68 per hour. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

US (Washington State)

The pay range for this position in Washington at the start of employment is expected to be between $54 - $75 per hour. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Canada

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between CAD - $47 - $67 per hour. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

To learn more about Visual Concepts and our studio locations, check out our website at [www.vcentertainment.com](http://www.vcentertainment.com)

## About Visual Concepts

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Visual Concepts is a leading video game development studio best known for creating the NBA 2K, WWE 2K, and LEGO 2K Drive franchises.
- **Entity Type**: Public (wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., NASDAQ: TTWO, operating under the 2K publishing label)
- **Headquarters**: Novato, California, United States
- **Founded**: 1988
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Video game development (computer games)
- **Target Customers**: B2C – gamers worldwide, across console, PC, and mobile platforms
- **Mission Statement**: “Make great games that put the player first” – continuously pushing the envelope of what’s next in interactive entertainment.

## Products & Services
- **NBA 2K Series**: Flagship annual basketball simulation franchise, launched in 2000, known for its realism, deep career modes, and online play.
- **WWE 2K Series**: Professional wrestling simulation game, featuring extensive roster, creation tools, and story modes.
- **LEGO 2K Drive**: Open-world arcade racing game combining LEGO building mechanics with driving, released in 2023.
- **Other 2K Sports Titles**: Previous work on MLB 2K, NHL 2K, and other sports games.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed separately; parent company Take-Two Interactive has a market cap of approximately $30B (as of mid-2026).
- **Key Metric**: Revenue not publicly available at studio level; total funding not applicable (subsidiary).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company Take-Two Interactive; publishing label 2K; partners include the NBA, WWE, and LEGO Group.
- **Growth Signals**:
  - 477 employees as of mid-2026 (+1.3% YoY)
  - Operates studios in Novato (HQ), Irvine, Austin, Budapest, Shanghai, Seoul, and more
  - Acquired HookBang in 2021 to boost engineering talent
  - Continues to expand its global footprint with studios in China and Hungary

## Competitive Advantages
- **Longevity & IP Ownership**: Over 35 years of game development, owning or licensing some of the most valuable sports entertainment IPs (NBA, WWE).
- **Multi-Studio Model**: Studios across the US, Europe, and Asia allow for 24/7 development cycles and access to diverse talent pools.
- **Technical Excellence**: Deep expertise in Unreal Engine, Unity, custom engines, and advanced graphics (e.g., AI-driven animation, photogrammetry).
- **Track Record**: Consistent annual releases with high Metacritic scores and strong commercial performance.

## Strategic Focus
- **Innovation in Sports Gaming**: Investing in AI, machine learning, and real-time rendering to make NBA 2K and WWE 2K more immersive.
- **Expanding Franchises**: Growing the LEGO 2K series and exploring new IP under the 2K umbrella.
- **Global Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring in Shanghai, Novato, and other studios to strengthen engineering, art, and design teams.
- **Player-Centric Design**: Emphasizing community feedback and live-service models to extend game longevity.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “More freedom to do what you do best” – the studio emphasizes giving employees tools, technology, and autonomy to produce their best work. LinkedIn rating of 4.2/5 (71 reviews) with positive marks for work-life balance (4.0), culture (4.1), and career growth (3.7).
- **Work Policy**: Not explicitly stated as remote/hybrid; locations include on-site studios. Some roles may offer flexibility.
- **Perks & Engineering Culture**: Access to cutting-edge tech stacks (Unreal Engine, Unity, AWS, Python, C++, etc.). Collaboration with top talent from EA, Blizzard, Lucasfilm, and more. Opportunities to work on globally recognized franchises.

## Sources
1. [Official Website](https://vcentertainment.com/)
2. [Careers Page (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/visualconcepts)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/visual-concepts)
4. [Studios Page](https://vcentertainment.com/studios/)

## Other roles at Visual Concepts

- [Graphics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/graphics-engineer-visual-concepts-novato-x6vbd0we9dds) — Novato, CA
- [Senior Engineer, Server – NBA 2K](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineer-server-nba-2k-visual-concepts-novato-h8jg0t4s0dzq) — Novato, CA
- [Junior Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-engineer-visual-concepts-shanghai-njpqc071ey2k) — Shanghai, China
- [Senior Full Stack Server Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-full-stack-server-engineer-visual-concepts-shanghai-fbgmy9jmtnk6) — Shanghai, China
- [Senior Artist, Technical (Rigger) - NBA 2K](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-artist-technical-rigger-nba-2k-2k-california-avn4thtcm945) — California, United States