VFX Compositing Technical Director (TD)
This position is based in Vancouver. All applicants must reside in British Columbia.
Open to Canadian Citizens and PR holders only please
At this time, we’re pleased to offer this position as remote 'working from home' OR working on-site at our Vancouver studio in the heart of Gastown, steps away from Waterfront Station. *No hybrid or remote work outside of BC
About Zoic
Zoic Studios is a Visual Effects company that specializes in high end visual effects for television, film, and advertising. Our mantra is Visual Evolution - we focus on every part of the process, from the final picture to the pipeline used to create them.
Are you looking for your next creative and technical challenge? Come join our team!
Why Join Zoic?
- We are an Artist owned and operated VFX studio.
- We love what we do and always stay curious about new technology and techniques.
- We respect work/life balance in a hectic industry.
- We work with a team from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Zoic is working on the VFX for an exciting Laika Studio stop-motion animated feature project that promises creativity, collaboration, and a fantastic chance to showcase your skills! Contracts will run through to mid/late 2025. (dates will vary depending upon the role)
Summary of Position
The VFX Compositing Technical Director (TD) is responsible for the design and implementation of tools and workflows that address compositing needs. Under the direction of the Digital Pipeline Engineering Sr Manager, this technical role supports the Compositing department in completing complex compositing shot work to achieve the artistic goals and story of the production.
Job Functions
- Work with fellow Pipeline TDs to design, develop, and maintain digital pipeline tools that pertain to compositing including shots, sequences, and procedural systems for convincing imagery combining stage and CG elements.
- Extend Nuke capabilities through custom scripts and plugins to address Compositor and Roto/Paint Artist needs.
- Collaborate with the Digital Pipeline team to develop and integrate tools and APIs, leveraging core domain expertise in one or more DCCs and VFX departments.
- Establish and share workflows, tools, and best practices to support shot production, and participate in look development of shots and sequences by working with artists across disciplines.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with artists, production management, creative leads, and fellow Pipeline TDs to troubleshoot and achieve the creative and technical goals of a shot.
- Identify areas of industry innovation and help develop and maintain custom tools, templates, scripts, workflows, and documentation for the Compositing team.
- Provide technical guidance for quality control of other artists’ work, as needed.
- Support the Lead Compositor to design, develop, and deliver visually creative and technically sound solutions that address the needs of shots and sequences.
- Support existing tools via bug fixes and version updates.
Qualifications
- 5+ years’ experience of compositing tools, digital pipelines and workflows, preferably on feature films.
- Experience in Nuke, Nuke Studio/Hiero, and Photoshop (familiarity with Silhouette, a plus).
- Experience developing custom Nuke toolsets, including Python3 or Nuke NDK.
- Experience with Linux (or other Unix) operating system.
- Knowledge of Blink Script, preferred.
- Understanding of applicable software and platforms including Nuke, Photoshop and Renderman.
- Understand VFX pipeline fundamentals, including shooting, editorial turnovers, modeling, texturing, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing, and DI (Virtual Production experience, a plus).
- Experience with one or more production grade renderers, such as Renderman.
- Expertise with coding and best practices in Python, the Python standard library, and the Nuke Python APIs.
- Experience with Universal Scene Description (USD) APIs and usage, a plus.
Additional information
- British Columbia Employees Pay Range: $45 - $65 (The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position)
- Zoic does not cover relocation costs.
- Any and all remote positions require the candidate to have a reliable internet connection via ethernet and be located in BC, working on Pacific Standard Time.
- This job description contains the basic requirements for the position and is NOT intended to be a complete list of responsibilities; other duties may be assigned.
- Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we regret that only those selected to interview will be contacted.
This position is based in Vancouver. All applicants must reside in British Columbia.
Permanent Residents and Canadians only, please.,
Top Skills
What We Do
"Visual Evolution" is our mission-to evolve the story, art, and technology of the moving image, and through this evolution, broaden the audience for moving images.
Partnership, integrity, and enthusiasm are the key founding principles at Zoic. Our projects are born in think tanks, where every idea has value and potential. Good ideas are fleshed out, and a plan for achieving a visual representation of the idea is set early in the creative process. During production we remain accountable to our word and, as changes occur, we change together. We believe that partnerships that remain intact finish with integrity. Most importantly, we love what we do.
Zoic is a company of accomplished artists and producers who understand story, process, and relationships. Our team has a proven record of success. They are masters in their fields of 3D, Compositing, and Production Management. Their reputations, in turn, attract additional talent and encourage a strong work ethic.
We have built a digital infrastructure, which is flexible and strong to support the staff. It is a "liquid" pipeline, designed by our team for rapid expansion and contraction. It is resolution- independent and changeable based on project needs. Leading visual technology firms provide additional support and insight to the latest methods. We work with these partners as we do with our creative partners: by promoting visual evolution as fast as technology allows.
What we do can seem complex and foreign--even incomprehensible. It is our intention to educate and encourage others to embrace this change and together create something new.
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