Visual Motion Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Company Description

Repeatedly voted one of Montreal's Top Employers and Employer of the Year for the 2022 Mercuriades Awards, Rodeo FX is a high-end creative company offering services in visual effects, advertising, animation, and experiential.

Nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for its work on the series Stranger Things season 4, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, the independent, Oscar-winning company boasts close to 800 artists crafting from studios in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Los Angeles and Paris.

Rodeo FX is a creative partner to the world's best storytellers including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony, and has collaborated on ads for YouTube, NBC and Apple. Current projects include Dune: Prophecy, Silo Season 2 and Sonic 3. Recently released projects include The Rings of Power Season 2, Venom: The Last Dance, Taika Waitit's Time Bandits, and House of the Dragon Season 2.

Job Description

Please note that this posting is an expression of interest only and is not an active role at this time.

We are always happy to connect with talented candidates for future opportunities. We are open to different types of collaboration, including permanent, temporary, and freelance contracts.

If you are interested in working with us, we encourage you to apply and share your profile.

The Nuke Compositor / Motion Designer produces high-quality visual work for advertising, branded content and experiential projects. Combining strong Nuke compositing expertise with motion design, Photoshop and broader 2D capabilities, the artist contributes to a range of creative and technical assignments throughout production.
Working closely with Creative Directors, VFX Supervisors, producers and other artists, the person translates creative briefs and feedback into polished visual solutions that meet established creative, technical and delivery standards.
This hybrid role is intended for an artist whose primary expertise is Nuke compositing and who is also comfortable contributing to motion design, graphic animation, image manipulation and other 2D production needs.
This Expression of Interest is not associated with an immediate confirmed opening. Initial opportunities may be offered on a freelance or project-based contract basis, with the potential for longer-term contracts or regular employment as production needs evolve.

Key Responsibilities:

Compositing and Visual Effects

• Create high-quality 2D compositing work using Nuke.
• Integrate live-action footage, CG renders, photographic assets and graphic elements into cohesive final images.
• Perform keying, tracking, cleanup, paint, rotoscoping, colour adjustments and other compositing tasks as required.
• Maintain visual consistency in lighting, colour, perspective, depth and continuity.
• Identify and resolve creative and technical compositing issues.
• Deliver polished work that supports the creative vision and quality standards of Rodeo Ads.

Motion Design and 2D Content Creation

• Create, adapt and animate graphic elements based on creative briefs and visual references.
• Prepare, retouch and manipulate visual assets using Photoshop and other relevant tools.
• Contribute to titles, typography, transitions, screen graphics and other animated visual elements.
• Adapt creative work for different formats, durations, platforms and delivery specifications.
• Apply strong principles of design, composition, timing and animation.
• Move effectively between compositing, motion design and general 2D assignments according to production needs.

Creative Collaboration and Problem-Solving

• Collaborate with Creative Directors, VFX Supervisors, producers and artists to determine the appropriate visual and technical approach.
• Interpret creative briefs, concepts, storyboards, references and client feedback.
• Participate in creative reviews and production discussions.
• Implement internal and client feedback accurately and efficiently.
• Propose practical solutions that balance creative quality, schedules and production constraints.
• Remain adaptable as project requirements, priorities and creative direction evolve.

Production and Delivery

• Plan and organize assigned work according to production schedules and priorities.
• Communicate progress, dependencies, challenges and potential delivery risks to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Maintain organized project files, Nuke scripts and visual assets in accordance with established workflows.
• Follow technical specifications, naming conventions and version-control practices.
• Review work before submission to ensure that deliverables meet project requirements.
• Manage multiple assignments and iterations in a fast-paced production environment.
• Contribute to improvements in production workflows, tools and working practices.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful and solutions-oriented working environment.
• Stay informed about emerging visual trends, production methods and technologies relevant to the role.

Qualifications

• Relevant professional experience in visual effects compositing, advertising, post-production, motion design or a related creative-production environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in Nuke.
• Strong knowledge of 2D compositing principles and production workflows.
• Experience in motion design and graphic animation.
• Proficiency with Photoshop.
• Knowledge of After Effects or other motion-design software is considered a strong asset.
• Experience integrating live-action footage, CG renders and graphic elements.
• Strong understanding of composition, colour, lighting, perspective, timing and visual storytelling.
• Strong creative and technical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work across different visual styles, formats and project types.
• Strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage priorities and deliver quality work within established deadlines.
• Professional demo reel or portfolio demonstrating strong Nuke compositing and broader motion-design or 2D capabilities.
• Experience in advertising, commercials, branded content or experiential projects is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Flame, real-time production, interactive content or emerging creative technologies is considered an asset.
• Excellent command of English, spoken and written.

Additional Information

Diversity : At Rodeo FX, diversity is a core value. We're committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where different perspectives are embraced. Every team member brings unique insight that strengthens our creativity, challenges our thinking, and helps us deliver better work.

Rodeo FX may use AI-based tools to support certain steps of the recruitment process, such as interview transcription or preliminary application analysis. These tools may be operated by third-party providers, and data may be processed outside Quebec. These tools never replace human decision-making: all final hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team and hiring managers. To learn more about how we protect your personal information and your rights, please consult our Privacy Policy.