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Full Time Houdini Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

Proficiency with tools such as After Effects, Nuke, Resolve, Premiere, Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini, or ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

New York, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

Proficiency with tools such as After Effects, Nuke, Resolve, Premiere, Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini, or ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

Proficiency with tools such as After Effects, Nuke, Resolve, Premiere, Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini, or ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

Together Group

Lead Real-Time Artist

Sarasota, FL · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Imerza Employment Type: Full Time Location: Imerza Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000 / year ... Houdini and Substance beneficial Portfolio Requirements * Submit a real-time walkthrough reel ...

The Pennsylvania State University

This is a full-time, 36-week, nine-month, non-tenure track appointment. The anticipated start date ... Blender, Houdini, Substance 3D Painter, ZBrush, Nuke. To Apply To be assured of full consideration ...

Absurd Ventures

World Builder

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

... artistic direction into cohesive, immersive playable spaces. This role sits at the intersection of ... Familiarity with procedural tools (Houdini, PCG workflows, foliage systems, etc.) * Experience ...

Absurd Ventures

World Builder

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

... artistic direction into cohesive, immersive playable spaces. This role sits at the intersection of ... Familiarity with procedural tools (Houdini, PCG workflows, foliage systems, etc.) * Experience ...

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Full Time Houdini Artist information

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$84.5K

$246.3K

$400K

How much do full time houdini artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time houdini artist in the United States is $246,250.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,500.00 and $400,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Full Time Houdini Artist vs VFX Artist?

AspectFull Time Houdini ArtistVFX Artist
Required SkillsProficiency in Houdini, 3D modeling, simulation, procedural generationKnowledge of various VFX tools, compositing, particle effects
Work EnvironmentStudio or post-production houses focusing on procedural effectsFilm, TV, or game studios creating visual effects
Industry UsagePrimarily in visual effects, animation, and game developmentBroadly in film, TV, advertising, and gaming

While both roles involve creating visual effects, a Full Time Houdini Artist specializes in procedural effects and simulations using Houdini software, often working on complex simulations like destruction or fluid effects. A VFX Artist has a broader scope, working with multiple tools to create various visual effects across different media. The Houdini Artist's expertise is more specialized, whereas the VFX Artist's role is more versatile across different software and effects types.

What is a full time Houdini artist?

Full Time Houdini Artists are professionals who specialize in using Houdini, a 3D animation and visual effects software, to create complex simulations, effects, and animations for film, television, video games, and advertising. They work as part of a visual effects or animation team and are responsible for designing and implementing elements such as explosions, smoke, water, destruction, and other dynamic effects. As full-time employees, they typically work standard hours at a studio or production company and collaborate closely with other artists, technical directors, and supervisors to bring creative visions to life.

What are some typical challenges a full time Houdini artist might face when working on complex visual effects projects?

Full Time Houdini Artists often encounter challenges such as managing heavy simulation data, ensuring seamless integration of effects with live-action footage, and optimizing scenes for render efficiency. Collaboration with other departments, like lighting and compositing, is crucial to ensure that the final visuals meet the project's creative vision. Staying updated with the latest Houdini tools and scripting techniques is also important for overcoming technical obstacles and delivering high-quality results on tight deadlines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a full time Houdini artist?

To thrive as a Full Time Houdini Artist, you need strong skills in 3D modeling, procedural animation, and visual effects, typically supported by a background in computer graphics or a related field. Proficiency with Houdini software, scripting languages like Python or VEX, and familiarity with rendering engines such as Redshift or Mantra is essential. Creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail are standout soft skills for generating innovative and high-quality visual content. These skills enable artists to deliver complex effects efficiently and meet the demanding standards of film, TV, and game production pipelines.
More about Full Time Houdini Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Full Time Houdini Artist jobs? Cities with the most Full Time Houdini Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Houdini Artist jobs? The most popular types of Houdini Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Full Time Houdini Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Full Time Houdini Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Houdini Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Houdini Artist jobs are:
Full Time Houdini Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Houdini Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $246,250 per year, or $118.4 per hour.

Houdini Technical Director

Swaybox Studios

New Orleans, LA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Why join Swaybox Studios?
Swaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves' 6th and Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you'll help bring bold creative visions to life through hands-on artistry and performance. This is your chance to be a part of a production that's equal parts innovative and unforgettable.
Houdini Technical Director
Location: New Orleans, LA - Onsite
Studio: Swaybox Studios
Department: VFX / Technical Direction
Reports To: VFX Supervisor
Employment Type: Full Time
Why join Swaybox Studios?
At Swaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves' 6th and Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you'll play a vital role in coordinating the artistry and logistics that bring bold visions to life. This is your chance to help lead a production that's equal parts innovative and unforgettable.
Job Summary:
Swaybox Studios is seeking an experienced Houdini Technical Director to develop, implement, and maintain tools, procedures, and workflows that optimize our Houdini pipeline across VFX, Animation, Unreal, and Technical Direction teams.
Working closely with artists, supervisors, and pipeline developers, you'll create intuitive procedural tools that automate repetitive tasks, improve production efficiency, and solve complex technical challenges. You'll play a critical role in ensuring our artists have reliable, scalable workflows, while helping evolve the studio's overall pipeline architecture to support a hybrid production environment.
This role leans heavily into the technical side, but relies on the creative understanding for the needs of the artists. It's ideal for someone who enjoys solving difficult technical problems, building artist-friendly tools, node graphs, HDA structures, VEX expressions, and collaborating across departments to continually improve how work gets done.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop, maintain, and optimize custom Houdini Digital Assets (HDAs), procedural tools, scripts, and workflows that improve artist efficiency and uphold pipeline best practices.
  • Design scalable procedural systems that support simulation, environments, asset generation, geometry processing, lighting, and other production workflows.
  • Develop and maintain non-destructive scene-graph pipelines and create custom operators for the artists to work from.
  • Implement and maintain naming conventions, asset organization standards, version control practices, and pipeline integrations that align with the studio's production infrastructure.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to Houdini tools, simulations, procedural networks, asset processing, caching, lighting, rendering, and pipeline integration, serving as a primary technical resource for artists.
  • Automate manual production tasks through Python, VEX, and Houdini's procedural framework to improve consistency, efficiency, and reliability.
  • Balance immediate production support with long-term pipeline development, prioritizing critical production needs, while continuing to improve studio workflows.
  • Collaborate closely with Supervisors, Pipeline TDs, Production, and artists to identify workflow challenges and develop practical technical solutions.
  • Create and maintain technical documentation, user guides, training materials, and onboarding resources that encourage successful adoption of new tools and workflows.
  • Continuously evaluate production workflows, artist feedback, and emerging technologies to recommend improvements that enhance efficiency and creative flexibility.
  • Partner with Pipeline, Unreal, Maya, and Nuke Technical Directors to ensure smooth interoperability between applications and maintain a cohesive production pipeline.
  • Collaborate with Pipeline TDs and Render Wranglers to integrate Houdini and Arnold with Deadline in-house and via cloud-based rendering.
  • Use ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking) API to automatically configure networks within Houdini.
  • Excel in a fast-paced environment, with shifting priorities and tight deadlines, demonstrating exceptional organization and flexibility.
  • Stay current with advances in Houdini, procedural workflows, simulation technologies, and industry best practices, evaluating opportunities to improve the studio's technical capabilities.

Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of experience as a Houdini Technical Director, Pipeline TD, or similar technical role in a high-end VFX, Animation, or hybrid production environment.
  • Expert knowledge of Houdini, including procedural modeling, simulations, SOPs, DOPs, LOPs/Solaris, COPs, HDAs, and production pipeline development with a heavy focus/comprehension of lighting and rendering through Arnold.
  • Strong proficiency with Python, VEX, and HScript, with experience developing custom procedural tools, automation, and pipeline integrations.
  • Deep understanding of film production pipelines and how Houdini integrates with FX, animation, lighting, compositing, and rendering workflows.
  • Experience building scalable, production-ready tools that support complex film-quality workflows.
  • Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills with a proven ability to diagnose and resolve production issues quickly and effectively.
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to balance production support alongside ongoing tool development.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical artists.
  • Experience with Git, Rez, and other related version control systems and environment & package managers with collaborative development practices.
  • Use of unittest or similar framework testing to ensure no disruptions in active/current scripts.
  • Experience working with cloud-based rendering, distributed simulations, or scalable compute environments.
  • In-depth knowledge of color management, geometry caching, and asset publishing systems.
  • Experience with ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking) management software's API
  • Efficiency and experience with Linux systems and shell scripting.
  • An iterative mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • PySide, PyQT, or QT Designer experience is preferred.
  • Experience developing procedural workflows for environments, destruction, particles, crowds, vegetation, terrain generation, or large-scale simulations is advantageous.
  • C++ and OpenCL experience is great to have.
  • Familiarity with Unreal Engine and developing Houdini workflows using Houdini Engine.
  • Experience with Maya, Nuke, and modern cross-application pipeline development.
  • Understanding of rendering workflows using Karma, RenderMan, Redshift, or similar renderers.
  • Familiarity with motion capture, photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, or virtual production workflows is a plus.
  • Previous experience collaborating with SideFX on support tickets, feature requests, or beta programs is highly desirable.

At Swaybox Studios, we believe that great storytelling comes from diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, talents, and identities.
We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Swaybox Studios also complies with applicable Louisiana laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are dedicated to fostering a creative, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.

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