About the role
Job Details
Role: FX TD - Mid
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Project Contract (3-month contract, September start)
Work Week: 40 hours
Compensation: $80,000 to $105,000/year
Eligibility: Candidates must be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada
About Image Engine
Image Engine is a world-class VFX studio based in Vancouver, BC, established in 1995. The studio specializes in visual effects for feature films and television, with a portfolio including The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Game Of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, and District 9. Services range from concept design and pre-visualization to CG animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects. The studio prioritizes R&D and pipeline evolution, fostering a culture of diversity, teamwork, support, and professional empowerment.
Position Purpose
The Mid-level FX TD is responsible for delivering high-quality work within assigned timeframes. They apply notes from FX Supervisors and Leads, proactively seek solutions, troubleshoot problems, and communicate with other departments to ensure effective use of resources and data integrity. They are supported by Leads and Senior FX TDs in developing their technical and artistic skills.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Create multiple types of realistic and believable effects, including rigid body and particle dynamics, procedural geometry generation, fluid dynamics, and cloth simulations.
- Create render passes, beauty renders, and slap comps in collaboration with the FX Lead.
- Estimate task timelines and communicate potential schedule conflicts to the lead and show production coordinator.
- Attend rounds, dailies, reviews, one-to-one meetings, and team meetings.
- Communicate issues, simulation changes, and art direction during rounds and dailies.
- Address notes from the VFX Supervisor/FX Lead while maintaining quality standards.
- Support other departments (Lighting, Compositing, etc.) and ensure necessary information is communicated.
- Maintain knowledge of the latest studio techniques by regularly reading FX wiki documentation.
Experience
- Minimum 2 years of feature film or TV production experience as an FX artist in Houdini.
Skills and Abilities
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge and work experience in Houdini.
- Strong knowledge of creating HDA’s in Houdini.
- Ability to pick up large Houdini FX setups and run shots.
- Experience building Houdini FX setups in collaboration with FX Leads.
- Working knowledge of VEX and Hscript.
- Working knowledge of Arnold (preferred) or another 3D Renderer.
- Working knowledge of common data formats (e.g., VDB, Alembic).
- Working knowledge of compositing.
- Working knowledge of asset management within a complex VFX pipeline.
- Working knowledge of Nuke.
Core Skills
- Enthusiasm to learn new methodology and workflows.
- Ability to troubleshoot and manage competing priorities.
- Strong eye for detail and quality control of FX elements (smoke, fire, destruction, etc.).
- Strong understanding of image composition and creative story points.
- Excellent time management and communication skills.
- Ability to understand and collaborate with other departments (Animators, Creature FX, Lighting, Comp, R&D).
Desirable Skills and Education
- Higher education in related fields.
- Python scripting.
- Linux / Unix scripting.
- Working knowledge of Maya.
- Working knowledge of Gaffer.
- Experience with other solvers and simulation tools (e.g., Naiad, Realflow, Bullet, Blastcode).
Company Benefits
- Extended healthcare coverage starting from day 1.
- Premiums 100% covered by Image Engine.
- Up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year.