Chief Technical Officer; Head of Virtual Production

About the job

Role:
Chief Technical Officer (CTO) – (Head of Virtual Production)

Reports to:

CEO Studio Ulster Ltd

Location:

Belfast Harbour Studios, Northern Ireland Contract

Type:
Permanent

Studio Ulster Ltd is a ground‑breaking large‑scale Virtual Production creative technology company established in early 2024 and launching to market in Q4 2024 in Northern Ireland.

This new company will provide world class In‑Camera Visual Effects (ICVFX) in one of the most advanced LED Volume Stages, Motion Capture Stage and 3D/4D Scanning stages currently being built anywhere in the world. This scalable facility will support virtual production solutions and productions of any size located at Belfast Harbour Studios, only 10 minutes’ drive from Belfast City Centre. Anticipated clients include some of the biggest production companies globally as well as the local and national screen industry contracts across a range of sectors.

Studio Ulster is a £75m+, ($100m) 75,000ft² Virtual Production Studio complex and will also be home to one of the most advanced virtual production research facilities in this area. The CoSTAR Screen Labs an UKRI / AHRC funded creative technologies lab focussing on real‑time production and, on its own, unlocks nearly £11m of research investment in the sector.

Studio Ulster Ltd now requires a visionary Chief Technical Officer – someone with significant virtual production experience at the very highest level; someone acutely technical. The CTO is an executive role and will lead the studio’s operational and technical teams in relation to the delivery of in‑camera visual effects, motion capture, and 3D / 4D volumetric scanning among other supporting facilities.

Studio Ulster is a partnership with Belfast Harbour Studios and is supported by Northern Ireland Screen. Studio Ulster is levelling up the commercial studio capability in real‑time visual effects in the UK and Ireland and is supported by significant R&D capability. We offer world class facilities in a custom‑built building supported by world class crew, in a production environment that is well‑established and world famous for shows such as Game of Thrones all made in Northern Ireland.

Studio Ulster Ltd is looking for a Chief Technical Officer – someone who is experienced at the very highest level of the film industry to lead on the technical delivery of Virtual Production in all its forms at the studio. This is an Executive level role with strategic responsibilities for the technical services at Studio Ulster.

The CTO will oversee the technical teams and lead on all technical operations and production services delivery at Studio Ulster. This critical role will help steer the technical direction and strategy of the company and the CTO will be at the helm of the technical operations as over £20m worth of equipment is installed and commissioned at Studio Ulster later this year.

This individual will have significant and demonstrable, with major film credits in their portfolio and leadership experience of teams that focus on the delivery of in‑camera visual effects for film, HETV and board. They will hold credits on at least three major international level productions as HoD / Virtual Production Supervisor or above and have more than 5‑10 years of large scale VFX and real‑time production experience working with some of the largest production companies globally.

As the CTO and Head of Virtual Production, you will have oversight of all in‑camera visual effects, 3D scanning, and the motion capture activity at Studio Ulster. You will help build and lead a team of talented high calibre professionals, ensuring that our projects meet the highest standards of quality assurance, and you will help drive innovation in the field. You will support and plan project delivery and deliver cost efficiencies where possible to clients and enable a lasting and sustainable business model at Studio Ulster.

Your role will be pivotal in shaping the technological solutions and future direction of the services offered at Studio Ulster and of the industry internationally. You will build strategies working closely with your…