About the role
Company Description
Rodeo FX is a high-end creative company offering services in visual effects, advertising, animation, and experiential. The independent, Oscar-winning company employs close to 900 artists across studios in Montreal, Québec City, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Paris. Rodeo FX is a creative partner to studios including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros., and Sony.
Job Description
The FX Artist designs and creates complex visual simulations such as fire, smoke, fluids, destructions, and abstract effects, while respecting Rodeo FX’s artistic and technical standards. Integrated at the heart of the 3D pipeline, they collaborate closely with the FX and CG supervision teams, as well as with other departments, to deliver photorealistic, dynamic, and technically solid shots.
Main Responsibilities
Mastery of Craft
- Produce complex simulations (smoke, fire, explosions, liquids, destruction, magical or abstract effects) while respecting artistic and technical guidelines.
- Use Houdini effectively (Pyro, Flip, RBD, Vellum, SOPs) to generate optimized and adaptable effects.
- Maintain a high level of autonomy in the management of assigned FX tasks, from initial setup to final rendering.
- Ensure rigorous quality control of files, caches, and workfiles before any submission.
Creative Quality
- Propose simple, effective artistic solutions aligned with the vision of the project.
- Actively participate in dailies and integrate feedback constructively.
- Adapt the effects to the narrative needs, visual style, and pace of the scene.
- Improve shooting by adding creative value to simulations.
Technical Quality
- Ensure cache optimization, setup stability, and compliance with internal technical conventions.
- Quickly identify technical problems and provide functional solutions.
- Collaborate with the Pipeline team to integrate or test new tools as needed by the project.
- Check the compatibility of effects with other departments (layout, lighting, comp).
Communication
- Provide realistic estimates, communicate quickly if there are difficulties or risks of delay, and collaborate with production to adjust priorities if necessary.
- Maintain a fluid and respectful exchange with production, leads, and artists from other disciplines.
- Communicate clearly about issues, deadlines, needs, or technical limitations.
- Actively participate in turnovers, briefings, or progress monitoring with the project team.
Learn, Transmit, and Evolve
- Stay up to date with the latest practices, techniques, and references in visual effects.
- Share knowledge, tools, or techniques with colleagues.
- Participate in documenting or improving the working methods of the FX department.
- Welcome feedback with openness with a view to continuous progress.
Qualifications
- Previous experience in FX in a VFX studio (6 years minimum recommended).
- Excellent command of Houdini (Pyro, Flip, RBD, Vellum, SOPs).
- Basic knowledge of compositing (Nuke) and rendering (Arnold and Karma).
- Knowledge of USD and Solaris.
- Good sense of movement, physics, and visual rhythm.
- Rigor, autonomy, attention to detail, and team spirit.
- Assets: Knowledge of Flow Production Tracking, experience in developing Houdini tools, Python, or VEX scripts.
Additional Information
- Full-time position.
- Multiple positions available.
- Temporary and permanent opportunities available.
- Flexible start dates.
- Department: Rodeo FX - 3D.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Rodeo FX, diversity is a core value. The company is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where different perspectives are embraced.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
Rodeo FX may use AI-based tools to support certain steps of the recruitment process, such as interview transcription or preliminary application analysis. All final hiring decisions are made by the recruitment team and hiring managers.