3D Character Modelling Lead

Flying Bark Productions is seeking a 3D Character Modelling Lead for exciting projects like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Netflix's Ghostbusters. This hybrid role in Madrid requires active participation in overseeing the modelling team, mentoring members, and creating/maintaining various assets. The lead will work closely with the Asset Supe to construct organic and hard surface models, define 3D forms, and ensure technical requirements are met. Candidates must have solid knowledge of Maya, Z-brush, and/or Mudbox, be adaptable, and possess a Spanish work permit.

Must Have

• Oversee daily operations of the modelling team.
• Mentor, manage, develop, train, and evaluate modelling team members.
• Create, review, maintain, and support various assets.
• Construct organic and hard surface models faithful to art department reference.
• Define 3D form and 2D silhouette of models.
• Reconcile technical requirements for motion picture quality works.
• Create, revise, and maintain digital character, prop, and environment assets.
• Construct 3D models in Maya with strong UV layout knowledge.
• Solid knowledge of digital sculpting in Z-brush and/or Mudbox.
• Self-sufficient in maintaining workflows between Maya and sculpting packages.
• Ensure digital assets meet studio standards, specifications, and conventions.
• Support and maintain dialogue with other crew members (Surfacing Lead, TDs, Riggers, Animators).
• Meet weekly modelling department milestones and production deadlines.
• Develop workflows to increase productivity of the modelling department.
• Ability to take direction from a Supervisor and work autonomously.
• Be adaptable, flexible, and responsive to changes.
• Complete tasks within production deadlines for self and team.
• Regular catch-ups with the surfacing and rigging team to ensure optimal deliveries.
• Successfully realize the Client’s vision for characters, environments, and props.
• Fast problem solving and implementation of solutions.
• Establish relationships with key members of production and artists.
• Must have a Spanish work permit.

Perks & Benefits

• Work on exciting projects (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ghostbusters, Stranger Things animated series, Tales From Outer Suburbia).
• Cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & Kulture Klub.
• Hybrid working mode, with two days remote a week.
• Ability to bring dogs to work.
• Career development, training, and support opportunities.
• Full slate and plans for international expansion.
• Inclusive and celebrated company culture.

Flying Bark Productions is a dynamic and innovative animation studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The Last Airbender feature film, Netflix's Ghostbusters animated series and Stranger Things animated series, as well as our production Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan.

We are sharing this as an expression of interest for the new year.

This position is onsite in Madrid, and you must have a Spanish work permit.

About the role:

• Active participation in overseeing the daily operations of the modelling team as required;
• Mentoring, management, development, training, and evaluation of the modelling team members;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to create, review, maintain and support of the various assets, responding to guidance and review notes from the Client as well as creative and technical supervisors;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to construct organic and hard surface models which convey the intent of art department reference and are faithful to the style of the production;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to define the three-dimensional form and two-dimensional silhouette of all models as briefed and resolve unspecified details as required;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to reconcile the technical requirements of motion picture quality works including efficient use of geometry; an appropriate level of geometric detail; topology suitable for deformation, UV layout and rendering;
• Create, revise and maintain digital character, prop and environment assets and support end users (as required), responding to guidance and review notes from the Asset Supe, Client as well as creative and technical supervisors;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to construct the shapes of 3D digital character, prop and environment models in Maya, with a strong working knowledge of UV layout techniques;
• Have solid knowledge of digital sculpting in Z-brush and/or Mudbox and be self-sufficient in maintaining the workflows between Maya and these packages.
• Ensure that digital assets meet the studio standards, specifications and conventions with respect to appearance and aesthetics, user friendliness, performance, data integrity, and robustness;
• Support and maintain dialogue with other crew members, including Surfacing Lead, Technical Directors, Riggers and Animators, who make use of the digital assets as required;
• Ensure that weekly modelling department milestones and production deadlines are met, and communication to production of any issues that may impact on this successful delivery;
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to develop workflows to increase productivity of the modelling department while maintaining company standards.

About you:

• Take direction from a Supervisor as required as well as an ability to work autonomously;
• Be adaptable, flexible and responsive to changes.
• Complete tasks within production deadlines for yourself and your team.
• Regular catch ups with the surfacing and rigging team to ensure deliveries are optimal.
• The Client’s vision for the characters, environments and props as required, is successfully realised;
• Fast problem solving and implementation of solutions.
• Establishing relationships with key members of production and artists.

What do we do?

Flying Bark Productions is a renowned independent producer of family-focused animation entertainment. For over 50 years, our 2D and 3D production facility has created award-winning feature films and TV series.

• Why work with us?
• We work on some pretty cool projects - check out our website:

https://www.flyingbark.com.au/

• We have cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & a Kulture Klub dedicated to coordinating our busy social calendar!
• We offer hybrid working mode, with two days remote a week.
• If you love dogs as much as we do, you can bring them to work!
• Career development is important to us so we offer training and support opportunities whenever possible.
• We have a full slate and plans for international expansion so there is always plenty of opportunity for career development.
• Our employees say our culture is the best they've ever experienced - everyone is welcome and celebrated!

Flying Bark Productions is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.