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LAIKA

VFX Crowd TD

LAIKA, Hillsboro, OR


General Summary
The VFX Crowd Technical Director (TD) is responsible for working with the CG Supervisors and leads to support a team of VFX artists while working under the supervision of the Digital Pipeline Sr Engineering Manager to design and implement tools and workflows that address production needs. This position will triage and fix technical problems as artists encounter them and support the implementation of refinements and updates to workflows and toolsets.

Job Functions
  • Develop scripts to optimize various tasks for production, diagnose technical issues, and debug problematic scenes in Maya and Houdini.
  • Liaise with other VFX departments involved in the crowd pipeline including Modeling, Rigging, Animation, and Lighting.
  • Develop crowd tools and techniques and monitor bug reports filed by artists in the department.
  • Help deliver simulations by assembling 3D assets coming from Animation using Houdini and Maya.
  • Develop solutions and techniques that meet artistic and technical direction.
  • Communicate with production and leads regarding schedules and deadlines.
  • Help the Crowd FX department produce complex crowd shots using different techniques such as sprites, vignettes, or simulations.
  • Set up crowd agents and clips for shot creation.
  • Populate and choreograph scenes using proprietary Houdini tools and workflows.

Qualifications
  • 5+ years of related experience in film, preferably in motion picture computer graphics.
  • Expertise with coding and best practices in Python, the Python code library, and one or more industry standard Python APIs for DCCs such as Maya, Nuke, and/or Houdini.
  • Strong understanding of Houdini crowd simulation and/or related software programs.
  • Basic 3D animation skills.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
  • Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.

Location
On-site in Hillsboro, OR and Remote Eligible.

Salary
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Please review our EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER and MATERIALS SUBMISSION AGREEMENT.