Look Development Artist

About us: 

We are arx anima, an animation studio based in Vienna, Frankfurt, Leipzig & Madrid and have been producing animation cinema productions for years. We also have the courage to try every new technical challenge and innovation. 

Be it pioneering in lighting with Houdini Solaris / USD workflows, the realisation of a high-end MoCap studio, or the construction of the largest render farm in Austria. And besides all the R&D, features, and series we love to work on creatively animated commercials and other service work. For example, we just revived Mozart through an immersive 360° art projection about Vienna in his era.

Job Overview:

We are seeking a talented and creative 3D Animation Look Development Artist to join our team. The ideal candidate will play a key role in establishing the visual style and quality of 3D assets in animation projects. As a Look Development Artist, you will work closely with the Director, CG supervisor, and Texture teams to ensure the final output aligns with the intended artistic vision and technical standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Director, CG supervisor, and other departments to develop the visual aesthetic of 3D animated characters, environments, props, and assets.

• Design and refine materials, textures, shaders, and lighting setups to achieve the desired look, ensuring consistency across the project.

• Conduct tests and work on iterative refinements to achieve the desired look in various lighting and environmental conditions.

• Work closely with the Lighting and Shading teams to ensure optimal integration of assets into the final render pipeline.

• Assist in troubleshooting technical issues related to look development and ensure assets meet technical specifications.

• Maintain and organize asset libraries and file structures to ensure easy access and efficiency for the production team.

• Continuously stay updated on industry trends, tools, and techniques related to 3D look development, contributing innovative solutions to the team.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience in 3D animation and look development within the animation, VFX, or game industry.

• Strong proficiency in 3D software (e.g., Houdini, Maya, or similar) and rendering engines (e.g., Karma, Arnold, or similar).

• Experience in Solaris and MaterialX is beneficial. 

• Expertise in texturing, lighting, and shading workflows.

• Proficiency in using various texture painting and authoring tools is a plus (e.g., Substance Painter, Mari, Photoshop).

• Strong understanding of material and texture creation, as well as visual storytelling.

• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced production environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a keen eye for detail.

• A portfolio demonstrating your expertise in 3D look development is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Houdini Solaris for procedural shading and asset creation.

• Familiarity with compositing software (e.g., Nuke).

• Experience in creating complex textures and shadings for characters, environments, and props.

• Understanding of the animation production pipeline and the role of look development in the overall production process.

Hard facts

• Location: Vienna, Austria

• Start date: ASAP

• Estimated end date: End of 2025

• Payment: Our compensation is based on experience and according to the collective agreement

Enjoy the flexibility of a "workation", allowing you to work remotely for several weeks from another EU country - provided it aligns with production needs.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At arx anima we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible workplace for everyone.

So what are you waiting for?

Due to the requirements of the project, we can only consider applications from candidates who are willing to relocate and hold either a valid EU passport or a valid Austrian work permit.