FX Pipeline Technical Director (TD)

1 Week ago • 4 Years + • $45 PA - $65 PA

Job Summary

Job Description

The FX Pipeline TD will work closely with artists, senior engineers, and technical directors to design, develop, deploy, and support custom tools, scripts, OTLs, APIs, and plugins to extend the capabilities of our USD-backed, Houdini-based FX Pipeline. Responsibilities include extending the capabilities of Houdini through custom scripts, collaborating with the technology team to integrate Houdini-authored products, working with non-technical end users to define requirements, collaborating with other pipeline TDs and engineers to evolve the core pipeline, assisting in the integration of Houdini, following software development lifecycle processes, providing support for existing tools, and supporting users on Linux.

Must have:

4+ years’ experience developing custom tools in an animation or VFX environment.
Experience with Python including industry standard libraries and Houdini’s DSLs.
Experience integrating Houdini into a production pipeline using its API.
Experience designing and authoring Houdini Digital Assets.

Good to have:

Experience with USD and its various APIs.
Experience with one or more production grade renderers.
Experience with additional DCCs such as Maya, Katana, Terragen, and/or Nuke.
Experience with SCM tools such as Git and GitLab.
Experience with Linux is preferred.

Perks:

We are an Artist owned and operated VFX studio.
We love what we do and always stay curious about new technology and techniques.
We respect work/life balance in a hectic industry.
We work with a team from all walks of life and backgrounds.

11 skills required

11 skills required for this role

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

maya

prototyping

github

houdini

py-side

python

git

gitlab

linux

nuke

real-time-vfx

Job Details

FX Pipeline Technical Director (TD)

All applicants must be residents of British Columbia, Canada.
Must be legally entitled to work in Canada ie. Citizen, PR, Open Work Permit.

At this time, we’re pleased to offer this role as an option to work from home OR work from our Vancouver studio in the beautiful Gastown area, close to the Waterfront Station in Downtown. (Remote is not available outside of BC; there is no hybrid)

About Zoic
Zoic Studios is a Visual Effects company that specializes in high end visual effects for television, film, and advertising. Our mantra is Visual Evolution - we focus on every part of the process, from the final picture to the pipeline used to create them.

Are you looking for your next creative and technical challenge? Come join our team!

Why Join Zoic?

We are an Artist owned and operated VFX studio.
We love what we do and always stay curious about new technology and techniques.
We respect work/life balance in a hectic industry.
We work with a team from all walks of life and backgrounds.

We are excited to share an incredible stop-motion animated feature project that promises creativity, collaboration, and a fantastic chance to showcase your skills!

Summary of Position
The FX Pipeline TD will work closely with artists, senior engineers, and technical directors to design, develop, deploy, and support custom tools, scripts, OTLs, APIs, and plugins to extend the capabilities of our USD-backed, Houdini-based FX Pipeline.

Job Functions

Extend the capabilities of Houdini through custom scripts, digital assets, and plugins, collaborating with production and facility leadership to target high value projects and addressing the needs of FX artists, as well as various other departments to integrate Houdini into respective workflows.
Collaborate with the technology team to integrate Houdini-authored products into the asset management system.
Work with non-technical end users to help define requirements for novel tools and develop prototypes for systems that solve production problems.
Collaborate with other pipeline TDs and engineers to evolve the core pipeline by incorporating technological advances and addressing the evolving requirements of a growing facility.
Assist in the integration of Houdini into the production pipeline as identified by production and technology leadership.
Follow the processes and procedures of the software development life cycle, build and release system, and documentation and testing standards used in Technology.
Provide support of existing tools via bug fixes and version updates.
Support users on Linux with FX and Houdini related inquiries.
Support applications through documentation, training, and handling questions.

Qualifications

4+ years’ experience developing custom tools and workflows relevant to FX within an animation or VFX studio environment.
Experience developing with Python including familiarity with best practices, the Python core library, and industry standard libraries such as PySide and pytest, as well as Houdini’s domain specific languages - Vex and Hscript.
Experience integrating Houdini into a production pipeline, leveraging its various API.
Experience designing and authoring Houdini Digital Assets.
Experience with USD and its various APIs, both stand alone and in Solaris.
Experience with one or more production grade renderers, such as Renderman.
Experience with additional DCCs such as Maya, Katana, Terragen, and/or Nuke, a plus.
Experience with SCM tools such as Git and GitLab.
Experience with Linux preferred.

Additional information

British Columbia Employees Pay Range: $45 - $65 (The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position)
Zoic does not cover relocation costs.
Any and WFH remote positions require the candidate to have a reliable internet connection via ethernet and be located in BC, working on Pacific Standard Time.
This job description contains the basic requirements for the position and is NOT intended to be a complete list of responsibilities; other duties may be assigned.
Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we regret that only those selected to interview will be contacted.