Assets Workflow TD

POSITION PURPOSE

The Assets Workflow TD provides support and guidance to our Assets artists and TDs, facilitating the creation of high quality deliverables for film and high end TV. They act as the technical advocate primarily for our Assets department, translating their technical and creative needs into tools and workflow designs to ensure efficient and successful delivery of Assets for Animation and VFX assets. They are well versed in CG production and able to understand both creative and technical needs and communicate solutions.

As part of a cohesive team of developers and TDs, the Assets Workflow TD uses their curiosity and investigative skills every day. They work with our artists, department supervisors, and CG supervisors to identify challenges, provide support and guidance, make suggestions as to approach, as well as implement tools and workflow designs that integrate smoothly within the overall production pipeline.

The Assets Workflow TD contributes to the overall design, operation and improvement of the facility pipeline. This includes engaging in cross-department communication, requirements gathering, flagging inefficiencies, providing solutions to critical production issues, as well as leading the adoption and advocacy of new processes and technologies through training and documentation.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as primary workflow problem-solver, educator and experience optimizer for the Assets department, developing a comprehensive knowledge of the CG workflow
• Guide, support and educate other Workflow TDs in the understanding of production related issues, providing context and clarification when necessary
• Guide, support and educate artists across the studio to help them interface with the Assets department and help them provide suitable and efficient data
• Generate and maintain documentation
• Determine the appropriate technical solutions to creative and production challenges in conjunction with the Workflow team.
• Consult with department leads and supervisors to standardize Assets workflows across the studio while maintaining the overall design ethos of the pipeline
• Design and maintain facility tools and templates with an emphasis on intuitive, artist friendly tools and optimizing process and data-flow to suit current production needs, while keeping an eye on the future
• Act as an additional point of support for assets based issues, alongside leads and supervisors
• Communicate successes and challenges faced by the Assets department to the Workflow Team
• Actively triage production technical issues and communicate with Pipeline Team, Development Team or 3rd Party Vendors as required
• Inform the design and improvement of core tools by the Development Team, giving context to how tools are used in production

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated production experience in Asset
• Proven experience developing tools for VFX feature films
• A degree or equivalent education and experience in Computer Graphics, Computer Science, or other related course
• A solid understanding and interest in multiple areas within VFX production and software development (e.g. asset management, support, colour science, lighting, fx, etc) a plus

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

• Advanced knowledge of assets related DCCs such as Maya, Mari, and Houdini
• Working knowledge of procedural scene assembly tools such as Gaffer or Katana
• Working knowledge of Arnold or equivalent offline production renderer
• Experience with Shotgun, RV, and interacting with production asset management systems
• Strong Python experience
• Strong understanding of CG asset production workflows

Core skills

• Curiosity. A genuine interest in understanding why we approach the work the way we do, a passion for improving that process and the drive to deliver results
• Have a knack for helping others, taking pleasure in continually improving their day-to-day experience
• Ability to effectively troubleshoot while dealing with competing priorities and projects
• Ability to take direction and feedback from a supervisor or a peer
• Team oriented with good communication skills. Able to work independently but not in isolation, as well as part of a close team
• Pragmatism. Knowing how to fit a solution to the scope of the problem and the available time
• Willingness to extend beyond your current specializations to help a larger production effort as and when required, and to cross-train in other disciplines
• Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications