CFX Lead

Are you an experienced Senior Character FX Artist with experience leading and managing a CFX team? You should have a creative passion to create high quality effects for an animated feature.

What you’ll get to do:

• Lead a CFX team
• Develop hair, cloth, and fur simulations with direction from the Department Supervisor, and direct team members to do the same
• Develop intelligent Houdini character setups, that can be highly automated, and direct team members to do the same
• Develop techniques and Houdini Digital Assets to achieve and optimize approved looks with direction from Supervisor , and direct team members to do the same
• Develop an understanding for the department pipeline including all assets and tools, and their purpose
• Assist in the development of the CFX pipeline and tools (in conjunction with TDs and R&D)
• Accurately gauge time it takes to achieve tasks and hit deadlines consistently
• Understand the processes of adjoining departments (Animation, Modelling, Surfacing and Rigging) and communicate with these departments as needed
• Contribute creative feedback in reviews
• Assist or mentor junior team members with any technical/artistic challenges they may have

What you bring:

• 7+ years’ experience on feature films, TV and/or animated feature with a focus in Character FX and simulations
• Demonstrated experience leading a CFX team
• Past experience, demonstrated via reel, of feature animation quality hair, fur, cloth, and feather effects simulation
• Production experience using Houdini: Vellum & grooming tools
• Production experience using Houdini: SOPs/DOPs essential
• Production experience using Houdini: Vex and Python knowledge desirable
• Understanding of muscle and skin simulation desired
• Understanding of anatomy and form in motion
• Attention to design and artistic detail
• Ability to lead within a team environment and to pass knowledge to other staff members
• Excellence in problem solving and balancing quick turnaround with long term quality
• Strong written and verbal English language skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to efficiently organise and prioritise work across multiple areas, meeting deadlines and delivering consistently high-quality work
• Ability to take direction and feedback and apply this to assets or shots moving forward; anticipating the supervisors and leads preference

What you should include in your demo reel/portfolio:
• Complex and problem solving Character FX shot work
• Houdini simulations
• Any digital assets and setups you’ve contributed to, created or developed yourself

Salary for this full-time position ranges from $97K+ depending upon experience.

TO APPLY: please email [email protected] including your resume, demo reel and reference job number 135423-GP in your application.