Houdini Technical Director (TD)

Company Overview

ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, BC Canada with design, storyboarding, modeling, rigging, animation, technical finaling, lighting, visual effects, and compositing artists alongside creative and management teams.

Known for our quality, efficiency, and timely deliveries, ICON has partnered alongside distributors, broadcasters, and streaming platforms around the world to help create, realize and produce noteworthy content.

ICON operates from a holistic philosophy that leverages individual skill sets to maximize production efficiency on the floor while maintaining an optimal balance of creativity and quality on-screen.

Why work at ICON?

• At ICON we constantly invest in raising the bar of our productions and fostering our people. If you are passionate about animation and enjoy sharing success with others, we'd like to hear from you!
• Join the fastest-growing CG Animation studio in Vancouver
• Work on top feature and episodic CG franchises for leading streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Peacock, Paramount+ etc.)
• Work with a diverse group of artists from all over the world who have come to BC to join our expanding studio
• Use all of the latest tools and software
• We uphold a premium standard of quality across all of our productions by putting all of our resources up on screen
• We hire for the long term and give artists the opportunity to grow, get promoted and take on as much responsibility as they can manage
• We offer flexibility and autonomy
• We facilitate requests in a timely manner
• We support PR applications
• We offer direct deposit
• We offer a generous benefits package
• And more...

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Houdini Technical Director (TD) to join our innovative team, with a specific focus on supporting our VFX department. This role is crucial to the success of our production pipeline, concentrating on the development and maintenance of tools, workflows, and technical processes that drive our visual effects projects. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Houdini's technical aspects and be able to translate that knowledge into practical solutions that empower our VFX artists to create their best work.

This is a technical role, and it involves a deep focus on the backend of production, ensuring that our VFX team has the tools and support they need to deliver stunning visual effects efficiently and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain custom tools within Houdini specifically tailored to enhance the VFX team's workflows. Your tools will streamline processes and improve the efficiency of our VFX production pipeline.
• Collaborate with the Pipeline team to ensure that the tools and workflows developed are seamlessly integrated into the broader studio pipeline, with a particular focus on optimizing the Houdini FX production process.
• Analyze existing VFX workflows and identify areas for improvement. Implement solutions that enhance the efficiency of the VFX production process, reduce redundancy, and minimize potential bottlenecks, directly impacting the speed and quality of our visual effects output.
• Act as the primary technical support contact for the VFX team. Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, provide training on new tools and workflows, and ensure that VFX artists can work efficiently without technical barriers.
• Work closely with VFX artists, Show Supervisors and the Head of Department to understand their needs and challenges. Your ability to communicate effectively across teams will be essential in delivering solutions that are both technically robust and artist-friendly.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in Houdini, VFX technology, and industry practices. Experiment with new techniques and technologies, and advocate for the adoption of tools and practices that can enhance our VFX production capabilities.
• Create comprehensive documentation for all tools and processes developed, with a focus on their application within the VFX team. Provide training sessions and support materials to ensure that all VFX artists can effectively utilize the tools and workflows you've created.
•  Ensure that all technical solutions meet the studio's quality standards, particularly in the context of VFX production. This includes rigorous testing and validation of tools and processes before they are deployed in VFX projects.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Houdini, particularly in a technical capacity.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, VEX, and HScript.
• Solid understanding of pipeline development and integration.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well within a team.
• Previous experience in a similar role in the VFX, animation, or gaming industries is highly preferred.

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ICON Creative Studio is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.