Mid Houdini FX Artist

The Mid Houdini FX Artist is responsible for delivering production-ready FX elements, including simulations, procedural setups, and FX-driven assets. This role involves working from initial brief to final render, with guidance from senior team members. Key duties include creating high-quality FX for pyro, fluids, particles, destruction, and vellum, ensuring seamless integration with other departments, and maintaining efficient, render-ready setups.

Must Have

• Create high-quality FX for simulations like pyro, fluids, particles, destruction, vellum or procedural effects.
• Deliver FX elements that meet creative and technical direction.
• Work closely with lighting, comp, and layout for seamless integration.
• Ensure FX setups are clean, efficient, and render-ready.
• Maintain clear node networks, naming, and caching structures.
• Tackle technical challenges with support from seniors or leads.
• Keep the team updated on progress and flag blockers early.
• Be open to feedback and work iteratively to reach final quality.
• Document techniques and setups for future reference or team sharing.
• Proficient in Houdini for simulation, procedural setups, and instancing.
• Good understanding of physics-based simulations and solver setups.
• Working knowledge of rendering (Mantra, Karma, or Arnold).
• Solid understanding of pipeline flow, cache management, and naming.
• Experience working with VEX or Python in Houdini.
• Familiarity with USD and FX handoff workflows.
• Understanding of compositing needs and AOV planning.
• 3–4 years experience in VFX or a related field.

Description

The Mid Houdini FX Artist is responsible for delivering short-ready FX elements including simulations, procedural setups, and FX-driven assets. The role involves working from brief to final render with guidance from senior team members.

Requirements

Duties:

• FX Execution: Create high-quality FX for simulations like pyro, fluids, particles, destruction, vellum or procedural effects that support the shot and story. Maintain and promote good practices, meeting artistic intent and technical guidelines.
• Shot Work: Deliver FX elements that meet creative and technical direction either by creating their own or running established setups.
• Collaboration: Work closely with lighting, comp, and layout to ensure seamless integration.
• Optimisation: Ensure FX setups are clean, efficient, and render-ready.
• Scene Organisation: Maintain clear node networks, naming, and caching structures. Follow studio conventions to ensure FX work scales across sequences.
• Problem-Solving: Tackle technical challenges with support from seniors or leads.
• Communication: Keep the team updated on progress and flag blockers early.
• Feedback: Be open to feedback and work iteratively to reach final quality.
• Documentation: Note techniques and setups for future reference or team sharing.

Skills, attributes and experience:

• Proficient in Houdini for simulation, procedural setups, and instancing.
• Good understanding of physics-based simulations and solver setups.
• Working knowledge of rendering (Mantra, Karma, or Arnold).
• Ability to work independently within your brief while staying aligned with show needs.
• Solid understanding of pipeline flow, cache management, and naming.
• Experience working with VEX or Python in Houdini.
• Familiarity with USD and FX handoff workflows.
• Understanding of compositing needs and AOV planning.
• Excellent communicator, sharing information clearly and actively listening.
• Strong time management, ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and escalate delays in a timely manner.
• Adaptable to change with the ability to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude.
• Driven to make things better with flexibility to change course when needed.
• Positive energy, focusing on results and having a positive impact on those around you.
• Self awareness and an ability to resolve and diffuse problems treating others with kindness and respect.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work well with others.
• Work independently on assigned briefs while collaborating smoothly with other departments.
• 3–4 years experience in VFX or a related field.