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Unreal Houdini Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NBCUniversal

Senior Game Specialist (Houdini)

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$130K - $155K/yr

The output from your work will be compatible with popular 3D platforms like Unreal and Unity, or as ... Experience with Houdini, Unreal Engine, Unity, or other similar game engines, including proficiency ...

NBCUniversal

Senior Game Specialist (Houdini)

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$130K - $155K/yr

The output from your work will be compatible with popular 3D platforms like Unreal and Unity, or as ... Experience with Houdini, Unreal Engine, Unity, or other similar game engines, including proficiency ...

NBCUniversal

Senior Game Specialist (Houdini)

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$130K - $155K/yr

The output from your work will be compatible with popular 3D platforms like Unreal and Unity, or as ... Experience with Houdini, Unreal Engine, Unity, or other similar game engines, including proficiency ...

Magnopus

Unreal Cinematic Pipeline Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$130K - $190K/yr

Magnopus is looking for an Unreal Cinematic Pipeline Engineer to help build and maintain the tools ... Maya, Houdini and Nuke fit into those workflows. * Experience using version control systems ...

Generate

$133K - $175K/yr

... Houdini-esque building design tools. * Contribute expertise and intuition to monthly feature ... Deep, intuitive understanding of Unreal Engine 4 (mandatory). * Deep, intuitive understanding of C ...

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Unreal Houdini information

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$84.5K

$246.3K

$400K

How much do unreal houdini jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for unreal houdini 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 Unreal Houdini vs Unreal Engine Artist?

AspectUnreal HoudiniUnreal Engine Artist
Primary FocusProcedural content creation, visual effects, and simulations using Houdini within UnrealCreating and implementing assets, environments, and visual effects directly within Unreal Engine
Required SkillsHoudini procedural modeling, VFX, scripting, Unreal Engine integrationUnreal Engine blueprint scripting, asset optimization, level design
Work EnvironmentVFX studios, technical departments, pipeline integrationGame development teams, real-time visualization, virtual production

Unreal Houdini specialists focus on procedural content and effects using Houdini integrated with Unreal Engine, while Unreal Engine Artists primarily work within Unreal to create and implement assets and environments. Both roles require knowledge of Unreal Engine, but Unreal Houdini emphasizes procedural workflows and VFX, whereas Unreal Engine Artists focus on asset placement and level design.

What is an Unreal Houdini artist?

Unreal Houdini artists are professionals who specialize in using both Houdini, a powerful 3D procedural modeling and visual effects software, and Unreal Engine, a leading real-time game engine. They use Houdini to create complex simulations, procedural assets, and visual effects, which are then integrated into Unreal Engine for use in games, films, or virtual productions. These artists bridge the gap between procedural content creation and real-time rendering, enabling more efficient workflows and dynamic visual results.

How do Unreal Houdini artists typically collaborate with other departments during the production pipeline?

Unreal Houdini artists often work closely with teams such as environment artists, technical artists, and level designers to integrate procedural assets and effects into game environments. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to discuss asset requirements, workflow optimizations, and troubleshooting issues related to asset performance or integration. Effective communication and a solid understanding of both Unreal Engine and Houdini workflows help ensure that assets meet both artistic and technical standards, resulting in seamless and visually impressive game experiences.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an Unreal Houdini artist?

To excel as an Unreal Houdini Artist, you need expertise in procedural asset creation, 3D modeling, and visual effects, typically supported by experience with Houdini and Unreal Engine. Familiarity with technical pipelines, scripting (such as Python or VEX), and digital content creation tools is highly valuable, along with any relevant certifications. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective communication help artists collaborate and adapt to evolving project needs. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering high-quality, optimized assets and visual effects within complex, real-time interactive environments.
More about Unreal Houdini jobs
What cities are hiring for Unreal Houdini jobs? Cities with the most Unreal Houdini job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Unreal Houdini jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Unreal Houdini jobs are:
Unreal Houdini jobs near you
Infographic showing various Unreal Houdini job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 86% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% 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

Other

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

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.

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