Crowd TD

Role Overview

At Framestore, our Crowd Technical Directors bring large-scale scenes to life - simulating and animating tens of thousands of characters for high-end visual effects films. Working closely with our Supervisors and department Leads, you’ll help craft the dynamic motion and behaviour of digital crowds that fill the worlds of our most ambitious projects.

You’ll use both proprietary and off-the-shelf software to create visually rich simulations, ensuring a balance between realism and artistry. Collaboration is at the heart of the role - you’ll work hand-in-hand with teams across Modelling, Rigging, Animation, Motion Capture, and Lighting to deliver seamless crowd work that integrates perfectly into the final image.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on both creative problem-solving and technical innovation, with the chance to contribute to the development of new tools and techniques that push the boundaries of what’s possible in visual effects.

Responsibilities

• Create and run crowd simulations as briefed by the CG or VFX Supervisor.
• Develop locomotion and motion behaviours to achieve varied and believable performances.
• Support the development of new crowd tools and workflows.
• Maintain strong communication with Production and Leads to meet deadlines and quality standards.

Requirements

• Strong working knowledge of Houdini, particularly Houdini Crowds and Agent Definitions (Maya experience a plus).
• Creative problem-solving and an understanding of both aesthetic and technical requirements.
• Solid grasp of animation principles and an eye for motion.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Familiarity with VFX pipelines and workflows across multiple software packages.
• Experience working in Unix/Linux environments.
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn new tools and processes.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in a similar crowd or simulation role.
• Programming or scripting experience (e.g. VEX, Python, C++).
• Understanding of particle systems and procedural animation.
• Experience developing tools, scripts, or plug-ins to streamline workflows.
• Familiarity with motion capture data integration.

Working Conditions

• Type: Hybrid
• Location: London, Greater London, United Kingdom
• Department: Film

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

Framestore is proud to employ extraordinary talent across all genders, races, nationalities, religions, ages, abilities, and sexual preferences. We aim to encourage and support all of our current and future employees to achieve their potential. No job applicant will receive less favourable treatment on any basis when applying for a career with us. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The requirements listed are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. You don’t have to satisfy every requirement or meet every qualification listed. If your skills are transferable and you feel like the role is right for you then we encourage you to apply.