CFX Artist

1 Month ago • 5 Years +

Job Summary

Job Description

As a CFX Artist, you will be the bridge between the animation and FX departments, ensuring high-quality character and creature deformations, simulations, and final rigged outputs. You will prepare assets for simulation, solve motion issues, and integrate cloth, hair, muscle, and skin simulations. You'll collaborate with animators, troubleshoot technical issues, optimize simulation workflows, and contribute to best practices. This role requires a strong balance of artistic sensibility and technical know-how.

Must have:

5+ years of experience in VFX.
Knowledge of Maya, Houdini, Nuke.
Understanding of character rigging and dynamics.
Experience with cloth, muscle, and soft body simulations.
Strong Python and/or MEL scripting skills.
Excellent problem-solving and attention to detail.
Understanding physics and natural phenomena.
Strong communication and collaboration abilities.

Good to have:

Experience with muscle systems like Ziva Dynamics or Houdini FEM.
Knowledge of real-time engines like Unreal Engine.
C++ knowledge or plugin/tool development experience.
Background in anatomy and biomechanics.

12 skills required

12 skills required for this role

Add these skills to join the top 1% applicants for this job

maya

unity

creature

houdini

python

mel

unreal

nuke

rigging

anatomy

real-time-vfx

fx-simulation

Job Details

Job Description:

CFX Artist
As a CFX Artist, you will act as the bridge between the animation and FX departments, ensuring high-quality character and creature deformations, simulations, and final rigged outputs. You'll be responsible for preparing assets for simulation and shot work, solving motion issues, and integrating cloth, hair, muscle, and skin simulations into the final renders. This role requires a strong balance of artistic sensibility and technical know-how.

Key Responsibilities:

Prepare and maintain character and creature assets for animation and FX simulation. Work with the Model department to ensure that the geometry being simulated meets Technical Animation needs
Apply cloth, hair, muscle, and flesh simulations using proprietary or industry-standard tools.
Collaborate with animators to clean up motion and deformation artifacts.
Work closely with rigging, animation, and FX teams to ensure proper handoff and continuity.
Troubleshoot and solve technical issues in character/creature performances.
Optimize simulation workflows and develop tools/scripts as needed to improve efficiency.
Ensure assets meet both visual and technical requirements of the production pipeline.
Contribute to the development and documentation of best practices and workflows.

Requirements:

5+ years of experience in a similar role in the VFX industry.
Good working knowledge in a production environment with Maya, Houdini, Nuke.
Solid understanding of character rigging, deformation, and dynamics.
Experience with cloth, muscle, and soft body simulations (e.g., nCloth, nHair, Marvelous Designer, Ziva, etc.).
Strong Python and/or MEL scripting skills.
Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Work with the technical teams to document and maintain libraries for rigging & tools.
Understanding physics and natural phenomena.
Strong communication and collaboration abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with muscle systems (e.g., Ziva Dynamics, Houdini FEM).
Knowledge of real-time engines like Unreal Engine for Tech Anim workflows.
C++ knowledge or plugin/tool development experience.
Background in anatomy and biomechanics for believable creature/character movement.