Lead Effects Technical Director

The Lead Effects Technical Director is primarily responsible for leading a team of Effects Artists. This role works as a hands-on collaborator with the FX, VFX and CG Supervisor to ensure that all delivered shots maintain ILM’s rigorous standards and support the creative vision of the show.

What You’ll Do

• Designs and creates complicated FX animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, particle and fluid systems, and rigid body simulations.
• Light and render FX elements and produce composites to showcase ideas
• Develops and implements new techniques quickly and debugs complicated problems
• Sets the standard by continually improving the efficiency, speed, and the quality of the team's output
• Provide constructive and consistent creative and technical oversight and feedback on a shot and sequence level to the team
• Partners with other discipline leadership in determining various cross department solutions, improvements and collaboration.
• Coaches and guides the team of FX artists to execute quality performance for the project.
• Works with Production to bid, schedule, and cast shotwork.
• Responsible for guiding the overall effects and simulations are on a delivered schedule and budget.
• Partners with Talent Management to provide artists with performance feedback, guidance, mentoring, resolving performance issues and maintaining positive morale amongst the crew.
• Attends all relevant meetings to promote effective communication throughout the production team.

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What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Graphics or equivalent work experience.
• Expert in Houdini software, and knowledge and experience in Python or Vex
• 10+ year’s production experience, also with experience in a leadership role in film visual effects
• Proficiency with Linux, Unix,
• Produced effects smoke, fire, explosions, water, clouds, steam, particle
• Demonstrable experience of mentoring and developing artists
• Strong communication skills to present to supervisors and mentor the artist team
• Can develop small scale, show specific tools for non-FX TDs and other FX TDs

JoinILM

At Lucasfilm/ILM we believe that diversity, inclusion and belonging are integral to our company. We are at our best when our people at all levels reflect the vast life experiences of our audiences, and we thrive when ideas and decisions from all are valued and represented. If you are passionate about the role, but don't fit every criteria of the posting, we encourage you to still apply. We want to hear your story.