FX Technical Director

This is a Full Time Job

FX Technical Directors create CG renditions of naturalistic physical or magical phenomena such as fire, water, clouds, smoke, physical destruction, and particulate.

What you'll do:
• Creating particle, rigid-body, fluid, cloth, fur and/or hair simulations or animations
• Applying lighting and shaders to produce the final rendered image or passing the simulation on to a Lighting Technical Director
• Using a variety of commercial and proprietary FX tools including Maya, Houdini
• Working in partnership with other departments to ensure that shots are delivered to the highest possible standard
• Working within the team to determine the various design solutions needed to create the effects
• Designing and creating images, elements, effects, pipelines, tools and techniques
• Helping to design solutions involving a more procedural approach in order to create the effects required
• Producing reviewable composites of all FX elements for a shot. Sometimes FX TDs will be expected to produce final renders too

What we're looking for:
• An excellent knowledge of Houdini and/or Maya
• A thorough understanding of the techniques and technologies relating to FX simulation and procedural animation
• Previous experience producing effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam and explosions in addition to simulation techniques for rigid-bodies, cloth and hair
• A good understanding of animation and an eye for motion
• A good understanding of the entire visual effects process
• A familiarity with pipeline issues, especially working between multiple packages
• A working knowledge of at least one compositing application (e.g. Nuke) and a solid understanding of the compositing process
• Strong Vex, hscript and/or Mel scripting skills

You might also have:
• Programming skills with C/C++ along with knowledge of the Houdini HDK and/or Maya API
• Python and Unix shell scripting
• Experience with other render packages