Senior Creature Technical Director; Simulations - ILM

Position Summary

Industrial Light & Magic (Vancouver) Inc. is located in Vancouver, BC. The Senior Creature Technical Director is responsible for setting up and running flesh-surface, hair, rigid, crowd, and cloth simulations in Houdini and proprietary tools, as well as rigging and enveloping heroes with background creatures, vehicles, and props in Maya. The role also includes wrangling creature pipeline issues under supervision.

This hybrid role requires 2–3 days onsite at a company‑designated location and occasional work from home.

• Set up and run advanced cloth, hair, rigid body, crowd, and muscle simulations.
• Troubleshoot creature CFX and pipeline issues for artists in other disciplines.
• Mentor entry‑level artists.
• Script utilities, tools, and plug‑ins in Maya.
• Execute creature rigging and enveloping in Maya.
• Apply CFX techniques to optimize simulation performance.
• Participate in reviews, dailies, and department meetings as required.
• Handle special projects as necessary.

• 5+ years relevant professional experience or at least a college‑level diploma in computer graphics, fine arts, design, photography, or a related field (or 7+ years VFX experience in lieu of education).
• Experience setting up and running advanced simulation shotwork.
• Experience in corrective sculpting.
  
  Knowledge of anatomy and enveloping.
• Positive attitude, team player, passion for the work.
• Good communication skills.
• Proficiency with Linux.
• Expertise with Houdini.
• Experience with Python or VEX scripting.
• Nice to have:
• Advanced hero asset rigging and enveloping in Maya.
• C++ knowledge.
• Basic proficiency in another discipline – modeling, texture, TD, animation.

Hiring range: C $112,200 to C $143,600 per year based on a 40‑hour work week. The base pay may vary depending on internal equity, candidate’s geographic region, job knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and variable pay or benefits may be offered depending on the level and position offered.

Full time.

Vancouver, BC, Canada.