Senior Crowd TD

Position at DNEG

The Crowd Technical Director is responsible for producing complex crowd shots using a variety of sprite, vignette and simulation techniques, for use in DNEG’s films. The Crowd TD works under the direction and supervision of the CG Crowd Supervisor and DFX Supervisors to develop a specific look, movement and style that achieves the Creative Goals and vision of the VFX Supervisor and Director.

A Crowd TD will successfully deliver simulations by gathering a variety of 3D Assets produced by our Build, Layout and Animation departments, using off-the-shelf software – primarily Houdini and Maya – and custom pipeline tools to create photorealistic crowd simulations.

Must-Have

• 6+ years CG animation experience within high end live action VFX feature film.
• Good understanding of Houdini crowd simulation or related software programs.
• Proven experience in producing crowd simulations with an eye for details, good sense of timing, and thorough understanding of techniques and technologies relating to physical simulation in computer graphics.
• Familiarity with pipeline issues and problem-solving.
• Experienced in balancing quality with time constraints.
• Experience in live-action VFX Films.
• Excellent artistic and technical skills.

Nice to Have

• Programming or scripting skills (e.g. mel, python)
• Experience in live-action FX or Crowd work preferred
• Houdini, Massive and Maya and/or equivalent 3D software knowledge
• Experience in other areas of visual effects (TV, Games) will also be taken into account
• A general TD background
• Strong understanding of Linux/Unix based operating systems

About You

• Organised, pro-active team player and a self-starter
• A team player and clear communicator
• Good attitude towards the work by being approachable and personable
• Adaptable and with a willingness to learn new skills and techniques – including proprietary software
• Calm under pressure and committed to meeting production deadlines
• A positive, can-do attitude

2 years contract

The ideal candidate must have the right to work in Australia.

Workplace Flexibility & Location

We believe great work happens through connection and collaboration — that's why we love spending time together in our beautiful Sydney office. For this role, we ask that candidates be available to work from the office at least two days per week. If you're not currently based in Sydney, relocation will be required to be eligible. We're excited to welcome someone who values a hybrid work environment and thrives in a collaborative, in-person setting!

About Us

We are DNEG, one of the world’s leading visual effects and animation companies for the creation of award-winning feature film, television, and multiplatform content. We employ more than 9,000 people with worldwide offices and studios across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver), Europe (London), Asia (Bangalore, Mohali, Chennai, Mumbai) and Australia (Sydney).

At DNEG, we fundamentally believe that embracing our differences is a vital component of our collective success. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment for our global teams, where everyone feels they matter and belong. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of background, experience or disability. Please let us know if you need any adjustments or support during the application process, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We look forward to meeting you!