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FX Pipeline Technical Director (TD)
Zoic Studios
Job Summary
The FX Pipeline TD will work closely with artists, senior engineers, and technical directors to design, develop, deploy, and support custom tools, scripts, OTLs, APIs, and plugins to extend the capabilities of our USD-backed, Houdini-based FX Pipeline.
This role is open to residents of British Columbia, Canada who are legally entitled to work in Canada (Citizen, PR, Open Work Permit). The position offers the option to work from home or from Zoic Studios’ Vancouver studio located in the Gastown area near Waterfront Station. Remote work is only available within BC; there is no hybrid option.
About Zoic Studios
Zoic Studios is a Visual Effects company specializing in high-end visual effects for television, film, and advertising. Our mantra is Visual Evolution — focusing on every part of the process, from the final picture to the pipeline used to create them. We are an artist-owned and operated VFX studio that values curiosity about new technology and techniques, respects work/life balance, and embraces a diverse team.
We are excited to share an incredible stop-motion animated feature project that promises creativity, collaboration, and a fantastic chance to showcase your skills!
Key Responsibilities
- Extend Houdini capabilities through custom scripts, digital assets, and plugins, collaborating with production and facility leadership to target high-value projects.
- Address the needs of FX artists and other departments to integrate Houdini into respective workflows.
- Collaborate with the technology team to integrate Houdini-authored products into the asset management system.
- Work with non-technical end users to define requirements for novel tools and develop prototypes that solve production problems.
- Collaborate with other pipeline TDs and engineers to evolve the core pipeline by incorporating technological advances and addressing evolving facility requirements.
- Assist in integrating Houdini into the production pipeline as identified by production and technology leadership.
- Follow software development life cycle processes, build and release systems, and documentation/testing standards used in Technology.
- Provide support for existing tools via bug fixes and version updates.
- Support users on Linux with FX and Houdini related inquiries.
- Support applications through documentation, training, and handling questions.
Required Qualifications / Skills
- 4+ years’ experience developing custom tools and workflows relevant to FX within an animation or VFX studio environment.
- Experience developing with Python, including best practices, Python core library, and industry standard libraries such as PySide and pytest.
- Proficiency with Houdini’s domain specific languages – Vex and Hscript.
- Experience integrating Houdini into a production pipeline leveraging its various APIs.
- Experience designing and authoring Houdini Digital Assets.
- Experience with USD and its various APIs, both standalone and in Solaris.
- Experience with one or more production-grade renderers, such as Renderman.
- Experience with additional DCCs such as Maya, Katana, Terragen, and/or Nuke is a plus.
- Experience with SCM tools such as Git and GitLab.
- Experience with Linux preferred.
Benefits & Compensation
British Columbia Employees Pay Range: $45 – $65 per hour. The actual base salary offered will depend on factors including qualifications, years of relevant experience, education, certifications, and location.
Zoic does not cover relocation costs.
Remote work requires a reliable internet connection via ethernet and candidates must be located in BC, working on Pacific Standard Time.
Additional Information
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 received, only those selected to interview will be contacted.
