Lead Creature Technical Director

Position Summary

We are looking for an extraordinary teammate to join our Creature team. As a Creature TD Lead, you will be responsible for the creation of outstanding character and creature rigs and simulations, using various software technologies. Our Leads are experienced in leading/mentoring teams, and they understand all aspects of Creature TD work in a production pipeline. They are able to wrangle rigging and creature pipeline issues proficiently under the direction and support of their supervisors.

At ILM, a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it comes from! Do you thrive in a creative environment? Do you enjoy sharing knowledge and learning from others? If you love art, technology, and movies, then this might be the role you’re looking for!

ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and the Creature team embraces promising individuals with a variety backgrounds and experiences.

What You’ll Do

• Advanced hero-creature rigging and enveloping in Maya

• Set up and run cloth, hair, rigid body, crowd, muscle simulations

• Comprehend and implement direction from Creature Supervisor

• Oversee the work of entry, mid and senior level Creature TDs and provide day-to-day assistance and guidance at the discretion of the Creature Supervisor

• Participate as a team member in achieving various aesthetic solutions; provide feedback to other members of the production team by attending dailies on a regular basis

• Train and mentor new artists as well as provide technical assistance to the show supervisors before and during the production

• Maintain or exceed a consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years relevant professional experience and a BA in computer graphics, fine arts, design, or photography, or related field; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience

• High proficiency in body/facial rigging. Working experience with proprietary modular rigging systems as well as off the shelf Maya rigging tools

• Deep understanding in anatomy and muscle dynamics. Good eye for aesthetics of body/face deformations

• High proficiency in cloth/hair/flesh/rigid body simulations, Setting up, running, and troubleshooting cloth, hair, flesh surfaces, and fur/feather simulations

• Troubleshoot creature rigging and pipeline issues for artists in other disciplines

• Experience with look of simulated motions

• Experience in both proprietary simulation engines as well as off the shelf software packages (Maya/Houdini) a bonus

• Proficiency with Linux, Python, Maya

• Positive demeanour and a phenomenal teammate, with good interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability to learn quickly and assimilate new information

JoinILM

The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C$122,400 to C$156,800 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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 full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits, may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.