Effects Technical Director

What You’ll Do

• Designs and creates FX animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, particle and fluid systems
• Responsible for setting-up and wrangle heavy particle effects and enormous crowd shots
• Excellent pipeline scripting ability
• Solid compositing ability, can wrangle blue-screen extractions, working understanding of Nuke
• Can write plug-ins, debug simulations and write set up and surface shaders with proficiency
• Can write/hack procedural surface shaders and volumetric shaders with proficiency
• Can animate moderate objects with proficiency
• Can pick-up new techniques quickly and easily and can debug just about anything
• Sets a standard for all Technical Directors in continually raising the bar for speed, quality of work and adaptability

What We’re Looking For

• 3-5+ years production experience or feature film experience with effects simulation work
• Demo reel required
• Ability to work with competency, energy and enthusiasm within a team environment with gentle supervision to complete a shot.
• Exhibits excellent listening and communication skills, able to receive direction and criticism
• Excellent presentation/communication skills in dailies/shot review by clearly and briefly outlining what has been accomplished and what next should be addressed in the shot
• Engages in the creative process without ego, and accepts all final decisions with a positive and supportive attitude.
• Demonstrates an excellent aesthetic eye, anticipating potential problems and using knowledge of how to use the tools to achieve the desired look.
• Demonstrates superb problem-solving skills and takes the initiative to offer ideas and suggestions.
• Prioritizes tasks and manages time very well
• Advanced simulation experience with either Houdini, Maya, 3DS Max or other software, and the ability to write expressions
• C++ skills
• Nice to have:
  • Linux and scripting ability in Python
  • Experience in MEL

Join ILM

The hiring range for Jr Effects Technical Director is $65,300 to $85,600 per year.

The hiring range for Effects Technical Director is $91,800 to $120,400 per year.

The hiring range for Sr Effects Technical Director is $129,000 to $169,300 per year.

The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ILM San Francisco

Job Posting Primary Business:

ILM San Francisco

Primary Job Posting Category:

Character Simulations, Effects Design

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

San Francisco, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2025-01-21