Quality Assurance Specialist - Houdini

Position Overview 

SideFX is seeking an exceptional Houdini artist with a keen attention to detail to join our Toronto-based Quality Assurance team. 

As a member of the SideFX Research and Development group, you will have the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the CG industry and interact with an outstanding artist community. We see this full time position as a career-defining opportunity in which to grow professionally and contribute to Houdini and its user community. As a Houdini Quality Assurance Specialist, you will be right at the heart of a constantly evolving synergy between technology and art, and we need you to be the best.

Our R&D team has received many prestigious industry awards, including four Technical Achievement Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an Academy Award of Merit (Oscar®), a Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award from NATAS, and four back-to-back Editor’s Choice Innovation Awards from CG World Magazine. Movies using our toolset have received the Oscar® for Best Visual Effects every year in the past two decades.  We share a passion for innovation in computer graphics and a drive for excellence in game tool development and procedural animation. Providing digital artists with the most advanced tools for their craft is, and has always been our single focus.

Whether you are research-oriented or development-oriented, we have a great number of exciting projects to choose from. You will have ample opportunity to grow professionally and make significant contributions to the success of our products. You will be constantly in touch with our users in the entertainment industry and with our colleagues. You will be right at the heart of a constantly evolving synergy between technology and art.

What you will be working on

• Testing Houdini to help ensure that it is of the highest quality possible.
• Testing new and existing features in Houdini trying to break them in order to discover areas of the software that can be improved.
• Build test cases, simulate customer workflows and demonstrate how to reproduce bugs so that they can be fixed by our talented team of programmers.
• Validate, update and create new node examples.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you need to be successful 

• Minimum 3-5 years experience with Houdini.
• Computer Animation and/or FX degree or equivalent industry experience, with a record of academic and professional excellence.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail is a must have.
• Experience with modelling, animating, rendering and visual effects is necessary.
• Ability to locate and investigate issues and track them in a database.
• Experience on Windows, OSX, and Linux (we test on all three).
• Ability to work well in a team environment with a positive demeanor.
• An independent learner with an eagerness to learn unfamiliar areas of Houdini. 

A demo reel with a detailed breakdown of what you did in each shot must be submitted along with your resume when applying in order to be considered for this role.

Not required but great to have 

• Ideal candidates will have production experience in film, TV, or games.
• Character animation experience, strongly preferred.
• 3D software testing/development experience.
• Python scripting.
• Experience with other 3D packages like Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, Softimage, etc.

We appreciate all candidates' interest, but only those with previous Houdini experience will be considered.

Company Profile

For over thirty years, SideFX has been at the forefront of providing artists with procedural 3D animation and visual effects tools designed to produce the highest-quality cinematic results. Rooted in production as both artists and pioneering technical innovators, we are passionate about supporting our customers' creative visions.

SideFX has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences multiple times, including with an Oscar® for our flagship software product, Houdini, and our breakthrough procedural-based technology.

Used by the world’s top film, TV, and game studios, from the largest AAA to the smallest Indie Studios, Houdini has transformed content creation workflows at hundreds of film and game studios. Contributing to blockbuster movies like Black Panther and Moana, captivating TV shows such as Game of Thrones and The Crown, and hit video games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Spiderman, and Ghost Recon. Our diverse clientele includes industry leaders like Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, Weta Digital, CD Projekt Red, and Rockstar Games, demonstrating Houdini’s transformative impact across multiple entertainment mediums.

What We Value Most:

• Decency: We treat everyone with honesty, kindness and empathy. We give generously of our time and knowledge.
• Relationships: We build collaborative bonds—with our co-workers and clients—based on trust and respect. Our diverse team gives us broader perspectives.
• Dedication: We take pride and ownership in our work, always trying to do our best. We are devoted to the well-being and success of each other and our clients.
• Excellence: We continually improve ourselves, our work and our company, striving towards excellence in all that we do. 

Our Employees Receive:

• Hybrid Work option - Combining time spent collaborating in person at our offices with remote work for added flexibility.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation and floater days to relax and re-energize (starting at 4 weeks).
• Year-End Company Shutdown and Long Weekend Early departures to add to the excitement.
• Health insurance coverage: Robust Health insurance coverage for you and your dependents.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) because sometimes we need a bit of extra support.
• Retirement Plan with company matched contributions.
• Comprehensive Long Service Award program, providing both a monetary reward and additional days off.
• A highly competitive bonus structure.
• A generous sick time entitlement to care for yourself and your loved ones. 

Why Join SideFX?

• Because you want to be part of a unique experience and winning team that has won an Oscar and an Emmy (Cool, right?)
• Because you want to grow with one of Canada's Best Managed Companies®
• Because you want to be part of an industry-leading company that is constantly mindfully growing.
• Because you want to work with some of the most talented people in the industry on a ground-breaking product.
• Because you want to work with people from all around the world.
• Because you want to be part of an exciting and fun industry.
• Because you want to join and add to a positive, supportive and respected company culture.
• Because you want your job to be GREAT!

Not the right role for you at this time? Take a look at all of our job postings on our Careers page or join our SideFX Talent Community for future career opportunities! 

Location

Our transit-friendly head office location, directly adjacent to Union Station in the heart of downtown Toronto, is open-concept with a relaxed style that includes casual dress and wraparound views from the 14th floor. 

SideFX is committed to inclusion and diversity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. Accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities upon request.