Post Finishing Specialist-Lucasfilm Animation (Project Hire)

Lucasfilm Animation Ltd., the creators of the Emmy award-winning animation series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and the highly successful animation series “Star Wars Rebels,” “Star Wars Resistance,” “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” and recently produced “Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord” is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Post Finishing Specialist to join our team in San Francisco.

This role is critical for ensuring the technical and creative integrity of our final delivered assets, spanning editorial, color grading, graphics, mastering, and quality control.

The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in industry-standard software, including Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve, coupled with a strong understanding of modern finishing workflows, color science, and delivery specifications.

This position requires someone to be located in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This position is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work primarily onsite in our San Francisco office and occasionally from home. 

What you’ll do & What You’ll Need:

In this position, you will lead the workflows listed below in collaboration with the Global Imaging Supervisor and Director of Post Production, and candidates are expected to demonstrate previous expertise and proficiency in the following core areas:

Avid Media Composer:

• Editorial Operations: Expertly run and manage Avid Media Composer sessions for editorial post-finishing tasks.

• Conform and Cutting: Perform precise conforming of edited sequences and execute complex cuts with technical accuracy.

• Export and Deliverables: Manage all aspects of high-quality export to various client and internal specifications.

• Project Maintenance: Implement best practices for cleaning up cuts, managing media, and organizing projects for long-term accessibility.

• Workflow Automation: Develop and automate updates to timelines and media management processes.

• Interchange Workflows: Ensure seamless collaboration between editorial and finishing departments.

• Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports on cut versions, media usage, and project status.

DaVinci Resolve:

• Color and Finishing: Utilize DaVinci Resolve for advanced color correction and grading, applying creative and technical color expertise.

• Conform and Timeline Management: Proficiently conform projects, manage complex timelines, and handle versioning.

• Rendering and Output: Manage efficient and accurate rendering of final masters to meet specified technical standards.

• Quality Control (QC): Perform in-application quality checks on color, stability, and format integrity.

• Color Science: Must have comprehensive knowledge of color spaces (e.g., Rec. 709, P3, Rec. 2020, SMPTE ST 2084) and color management principles.

• Advanced Scripting: Must have experience with DaVinci Color Transform Language (DCTL) and Resolve scripting in order  to customize and automate workflows.

• Interchange Workflows: Manage seamless interchange with editorial systems.

• Reporting and Format Knowledge: Conduct detailed reporting and maintain expertise on media and cut formats for finishing.
   

Finishing and Mastering:

• HDR/SDR Mastering: Expert knowledge and practical experience with HDR10, Dolby Vision mastering, including the creation and manipulation of Dolby Vision metadata.

• HDR Derivations: Skilled in deriving Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) versions from High Dynamic Range (HDR) masters, particularly using Dolby Vision 4.x tools and methodologies.

• Color Space Management: Advanced knowledge of professional color spaces and transformation pipelines for final delivery.

• Deliverable Formats: Extensive understanding of all required formats for final media and client deliverables. A full file-based Metadata understanding and experience in analyzing issues resulting from incorrect file-based Metadata.
   

Graphics and Packaging Element Creation:

• Graphics package experience: Expert knowledge of Digital Graphics applications such as Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Affinity tools, Motion and other related industry standard Graphic software packages. 

• Credit creation experience: Advanced knowledge of typographic processes and terminology to help create static and moving MOE, credit and related content and assets.

• Auxiliary Creation: Ability to create and integrate ancillary elements such as professional subtitles and on-screen graphics.
   

Quality Control (QC) & Technical Expertise:

• Signal Analysis: Solid understanding of video signals and broadcast standards.

• QC Environment Setup: Capability to set up and calibrate a professional QC viewing and audio monitoring room.

• Editorial Timing: Acute attention to detail regarding editorial timing, cadence, and sequence continuity.

• Audio Standards: Knowledge of various professional audio formats and loudness standards for delivery.

• Measurement Tools: Proficiency in reading and interpreting video and audio scopes (e.g., waveform, vector scope, historgram, loudness meters).

• QC Documentation: Accurate reporting and logging of all QC findings.

• Graphics and Image Formats: Proven ability to recommend and work with the best suitable file based image formats for the various creative, interchange and mastering workflows.

• Review Formats: Deep familiarity with the required formats and specifications for QC reviews.

• Display Measurement and Calibration: Familiarity with and proven experience in doing Display measurements, calibrations and reporting using tools such as Calman, Light Illusion and using hardware solutions such as Photo Research and Colorimetry Research measurement probes.
   

What’s Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Digital Media, a related field, or equivalent work experience.

• 8-10 years of professional work experience required in post-production and/or studio mastering.

• 3-5 years of experience with DaVinci CTL and Resolve workflow automation and scripting.

• In-depth knowledge of media and cut formats relevant to the editorial and finishing stages.

• Must possess very strong organizational, communication and project management skills to multi-task and be able to handle a variety of tasks in an efficient manner while meeting deadlines.

• Must be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously while displaying the highest level of professionalism, commitment, and work ethic.

• Ability to adapt and work with diverse personalities and work styles.

• High level of initiative, flexibility and confidentiality.

• Be familiar and comfortable with UHD, DCI, SDR, HDR, Dolby Vision and ACES workflows.

• Be familiar and comfortable with Stereo, 5.1, and Atmos audio post production workflows.

• This position may require some weekend work as well as the ability to work overtime on an ongoing basis.

• This position requires on-site attendance for in-person sessions and reviews.  

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $108,200 - $139,900 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, depending on the level and position offered.