Student TA – ANI-3501 3D Animation I (Martinez), F26

Applicants MUST be current students at DigiPen Institute of Technology to qualify for this position.

• Student Employment at DigiPen is open to all currently matriculated students if they meet the qualifications for the job.
• Students may not work during any time when they have a class scheduled, a class is canceled, or a class ends early.
• Student workers must reside within the State of Washington. Remote work outside of Washington will not be permitted.

Job Title:   Student TA – ANI-3501 3D Animation I (Martinez), F26

Reports to:  Leo Martinez

Class Times: 

Thursday – 6:30 - 9:20 p.m.

ANI-3501 Specifications  

This one-semester position is for a student who has successfully completed ANI-3501 or 3502.

Essential Functions

The Teaching Assistant's (TA) primary role is to provide technical assistance, constructive feedback, and general support to students as they work through complex bipedal character animation assignments.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster a supportive and collaborative atmosphere, encouraging students to engage in peer-to-peer feedback and problem-solving.
• Work with the instructor during and after course lab hours to facilitate feedback and communication during small group discussions if possible.
• Tutor after-hours – help students work through their issues and problems in regard to animation assignments.
• Report issues, ideas, course improvements, student issues, and progress updates to the Instructor.
• Work with the students during lab hours when available to provide technical and animation feedback.
• Accountable for tracking and reporting the amount of time worked.

Qualifications/Competencies

• Must have a strong foundation in 3D animation and rigging.
• Must have a thorough working knowledge of Maya, with a fundamental understanding of the process for animation, including controls setup, graph editor, animation layers, and cameras.
• Able to listen and communicate with students effectively and at their level of understanding.
• Able to guide students through technical and creative challenges, working alongside them to find effective solutions.
• Must be able to collaborate effectively with an instructor on both classroom activities and strategic planning.

Experience 

• Attended and completed ANI-3501 and achieved a minimum B grade. Preference to someone having also completed ANI-3502

Expected dates of employment:    September 1 – December 1, 2026

Expected number of hours per week:    3 – 5

*** Once again, students are not permitted to work during any time when they are scheduled for a class. ***

Wage Range:

$17.13 - 18.25 per hour, depending on number of terms worked at DigiPen

Requirements to Apply:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Current Semester Academic Schedule

Working Conditions:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, and/or crouching; and fine finger dexterity. May need to lift up to 25 lbs. Generally, the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing.

DigiPen Student Employee Academic Requirements:

• Are currently a Matriculated student at DigiPen Institute of Technology
• Good Academic Standing – not on Academic Warning as defined in DigiPen Course Catalog
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Have taken and passed ANI-3501 with a B or better

Requirement Exceptions:

It is possible to still be selected for a position with DigiPen if you do not meet the requirements above, so don't let that dissuade you from applying!

Once you have applied for – and the supervisor decides to offer you – a position, we will contact the necessary managers (Supervisor, Department Chair, and/or the Dean of Faculty) to complete and sign off on an Academic Waiver form, depending on which requirements need to be waived. Once the Waiver is returned to us, we'll continue you through the hiring process.

Equal opportunity is a priority of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as the institution is committed to fostering a positive learning environment for all. The Institute's intent is to hire the most qualified individuals for faculty and staff, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, nationality, culture, religion, and physical abilities. We are committed to broadening our candidate pool to include more diverse individuals and ensuring fairness in hiring by avoiding bias and determining criteria to judge all candidates prior to posting each new position.