Surfacing Lead

Flying Bark Productions is seeking a Surfacing Lead to oversee the look and surface qualities of animated characters, props, and environments. This role involves guiding the production process through texture and shader development, ensuring visual style and technical specifications are met. The lead will manage and mentor the surfacing team, collaborate with CG and Asset Supervisors, and maintain high-quality asset outputs for various exciting projects like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Stranger Things animated series.

Must Have

• Active participation in overseeing the daily operations of the surfacing team
• Mentoring, management, training, and evaluation of surfacing team members
• Follow guidance from creative and technical leaders to realise client's vision
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to reconcile technical requirements
• Brief surfacing artists and provide 2D design references for CG textures
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to develop workflows to increase productivity
• Solid knowledge of digital sculpting in Z-brush and/or Mudbox
• Self-sufficient in maintaining workflows between Maya and Z-brush/Mudbox
• Develop shaders for CG assets
• Construct organic and hard surface textures
• Create UV maps adhering to pipeline requirements
• Ensure weekly surfacing department milestones and production deadlines are met
• Collaborate with the CG modelling team in giving feedback of UV mapping
• Collaborate with the CG and BG teams on creative and technical issues
• Ensure quality control across all asset outputs
• Work in partnership with lighters and compositors to ensure schedules and deadlines are met
• 5+ years of experience in animation
• In-depth knowledge of Maya and Zbrush
• High proficiency in painting software like Substance Painter or Mari
• Must have a Spanish work permit
• Onsite in Madrid

Good to Have

• Willingness to learn Katana software

Perks & Benefits

• Work on exciting projects such as Avatar: The Last Airbender feature film, Netflix's Stranger Things animated series, and Tales From Outer Suburbia
• Cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & a Kulture Klub
• Hybrid working mode, with two days remote a week
• Dog-friendly workplace
• Career development, training and support opportunities
• Opportunities for career development due to international expansion
• Inclusive and welcoming company culture

Flying Bark Productions is a dynamic and innovative animation studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The Last Airbender feature film, Netflix's Stranger Things animated series, as well as our production Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan.

We are sharing this as an expression of interest for the new year.

This position is onsite in Madrid, and you must have a Spanish work permit.

We’re looking for a Surfacing Lead who will be responsible for the lead, support and delivery of the look and surface qualities for animated characters, props and environments. Through the use and development of textures and shaders; the Surfacing Lead will guide the production process to achieve the desired visual style and results. The Surfacing Lead works closely with the rest of the CG team to ensure the proper workflow and specifications are being adhered to and achieve the desired look on all textures & surfaces.

About the role:

• Active participation in overseeing the daily operations of the surfacing team as required.
• Mentoring, management, training, and evaluation of the surfacing team members.
• Follow guidance from the Program/s creative and technical leaders to realise the Client's vision.
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to reconcile the technical requirements of motion picture quality works.
• Briefing surfacing artists and providing them 2D design references to paint CG textures that are faithful to the style of the production.
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to develop workflows to increase productivity of the surfacing department while maintaining company standards.
• Have solid knowledge of digital sculpting in Z-brush and/or Mudbox and be self-sufficient in maintaining the workflows between Maya and these packages.
• Develop shaders for CG assets.
• Work closely with the Asset Supe to construct organic and hard surface textures which convey the intent of art department reference and are faithful to the style of the production.
• Create UV maps as required, that adhere to pipeline requirements and are suitable for the resolution and complexity of the assets.
• Ensure that weekly surfacing department milestones and production deadlines are met, and communication to production of any issues that may impact on this successful delivery.
• Collaborate with the CG modelling team in giving feedback of UV mapping that is suitable for the resolution and complexity of the assets.
• Collaborate with the CG and BG teams on all creative and technical issues, to ensure assets are delivered to the very highest standard and correctly for the subsequent departments.
• Ensure quality control across all asset outputs, including versioning and ongoing asset management.
• Work in partnership with lighters and compositors to ensure schedules and deadlines are met as established by the Producer and Directors.

About you:

• 5+ years of experience in animation.
• Fast problem solving and implementation of solutions.
• Establishing relationships with key members of production and artists.
• Take direction from a Supervisor as required as well as an ability to work autonomously.
• Be adaptable, flexible and responsive to changes.
• Complete tasks within production deadlines for yourself and your team.
• Regular catch ups with the asset and CG and Design teams to ensure deliveries are optimal.
• In-depth knowledge of Maya and Zbrush and high proficiency in painting software like Substance Painter or Mari.
• Experience in Katana (or willingness to learn the software) and a good knowledge of photoreal and non photoreal renderers.

Why work with us?

• We work on some pretty cool projects - check out our website:

https://www.flyingbark.com.au/

• We have cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & a Kulture Klub dedicated to coordinating our busy social calendar!
• We offer hybrid working mode, with two days remote a week.
• If you love dogs as much as we do, you can bring them to work!
• Career development is important to us so we offer training and support opportunities whenever possible.
• We have a full slate and plans for international expansion so there is always plenty of opportunity for career development.
• Our employees say our culture is the best they've ever experienced - everyone is welcome and celebrated!