Digital Matte Painter, Sr; General Submission

This general submission posting is an opportunity to submit your resume for future consideration only; not for an existing opening. We anticipate this role may be open in the near future. If you wish to be considered for this potential opportunity, please submit your resume. When a position becomes available, you may be contacted by our Talent Acquisition team. The Company will only contact applicants who are selected for further consideration about potential future opportunities.

Business Unit
:
Curated

Position
:
Digital Matte Painter, Sr

Location
:
New York, NY (Remote)
* Pay Range
: $52.46 - $78.69 USD hourly

The Senior Digital Matte Painter is responsible for creating high‑end, photorealistic environments and landscapes that seamlessly integrate with live‑action plates or stand as fully CG shots. This role requires a master‑level understanding of traditional artistic fundamentals—light, color, and perspective—combined with advanced technical proficiency in 2.5D and 3D projection workflows. As a senior artist, you will establish the visual standard for sequences and bridge the gap between concept art and final compositing.

The Senior Digital Matte Painter is responsible for environment creation and look dev, designing and painting photorealistic digital environments, set extensions, and textures. They will create style frames and "paint‑overs" to define the creative direction of a sequence for the rest of the team. They will be responsible for complex 3D Projections, architect and apply sophisticated 3D projection setups within Nuke and Maya, ensuring matte paintings hold up across complex camera moves with correct parallax and depth.

The Senior DMP is also responsible for the following:

• Full‑Cycle Execution: Manage the process from initial concept art and 2D painting to final "slap‑comps" in Nuke, ensuring the technical integrity of all published assets.
• Integrated Workflows: Utilize a mix of 2D and 3D techniques (including basic modeling and lighting in Maya) to create environments that are optimized for the production pipeline and render‑efficient.
• Consistency & Quality Control: Maintain a high aesthetic standard across all shots, ensuring color, lighting, and atmospheric continuity throughout the sequence.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Provide guidance and feedback to junior and mid‑level artists, helping them troubleshoot technical issues and refine their artistic eye.
• Pipeline Contribution: Collaborate with the Pipeline and IT teams to refine DMP workflows and tools. Assist in the evaluation of new software or techniques (e.g., Houdini integration).
• Interdepartmental Liaison: Coordinate closely with the Layout, Lighting, and Compositing departments to ensure assets are delivered in a way that maximizes flexibility in the final stages of production.
• Documentation: Keep clear notes and documentation on projection setups or specific techniques used for a show to ensure ease of use for other artists on the project.

The ideal candidate will have senior‑level working experience in a high‑end VFX studio environment, with a portfolio showcasing photorealistic environments for feature films. They will have a mastery of Creative Tools, expert‑level proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Nuke, and Maya, and proven ability to build and troubleshoot complex 3D projection rigs and 2.5D setups. Additional desired skills include:

• Artistic Foundations: An exceptional eye for detail and a deep understanding of atmospheric perspective, composition, and lighting.
• Efficiency Under Pressure: A proven track record of meeting tight deadlines while retaining a high quality of work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Adaptability: A proactive desire to learn new workflows and integrate emerging technologies (experience with Houdini or Terragen is a significant plus).

Company 3, including its various business units and family of brands, provides a full range of Creative Services for content creators, including conceptual design, pre‑vis, look development, ideation and rapid prototyping, 3D animation/CGI, motion graphics/designers, matte painting, compositing, dailies and production…