RESPONSIBILITIES:
ยท Collaborate with VFX, CG, and department supervisors to deliver FX that meet creative vision, technical requirements, and production deadlines.
ยท Create a wide range of FX in Houdini, including fire, smoke, fluids, electricity, explosions, supernatural/magical effects, and large-scale destruction.
ยท Develop and refine procedural FX setups that are efficient, scalable, and adaptable by other artists
ยท Work from scratch or enhance existing setups, optimizing for performance, caching, and rendering
ยท Maintain consistency with established art styles while adapting to the creative needs of individual projects
ยท Participate in reviews and critiques, providing solutions to enhance quality and efficiency
ยท Research and collect reference material to guide look development
ยทTroubleshoot and resolve technical and artistic challenges, collaborating across departments for seamless integration of FX into shots
REQUIREMENTS:
ยท 4+ years of professional experience in film, streaming episodics, cinematics, or high-end commercials
ยท Proven experience producing FX such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam, magical effects, and destruction
ยท Strong understanding of simulation techniques, procedural workflows, and FX optimization
ยท Proficiency with one or more industry-standard renderers (e.g., Karma XPU, Redshift, V-Ray, Mantra)
ยท Working knowledge of production tracking tools such as Ftrack, ShotGrid, or equivalent
ยท Ability to adapt to various art styles and quickly learn new tools and pipelines
ยท Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines
PREFERRED SKILLS:
ยท Python and HOM scripting; VEX experience a plus
ยท Procedural shader creation and USD-based FX workflows
ยท FX concept art skills for pitches and look development
ยท Compositing experience in Nuke