Instructor, Virtual Environments​/Algorithmic Animation

Department: School of Art & Art History Dept

College/Division: College of The Arts

Salary Plan: Full time Faculty 12 month

Hiring Salary/Salary Range: $85,000 or commensurate with experience

In a cross‑department collaboration, The School of Art & Art History and Innovative Education at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa invite applications for a Faculty Instructor in Residence at InEd Studios for Virtual Environments / Algorithmic Animation. Appointment to begin in August 2024. The role encompasses developing new curricula, teaching courses ranging from undergraduate non‑majors to art specialization majors, mentoring graduate students in a multidisciplinary MFA program, and organizing the needs of an expanding Animation program.

As an Unreal Engine Artist and Faculty in Residence at InEd Studios, responsibilities include asset creation, level design, content delivery for virtual productions, collaboration with the Virtual Production Supervisor on concept development, sequence blocking, and interactive experiences, support of on‑set virtual production operations, optimization of virtual sets for real‑time rendering, enhancement of visual quality through lighting, seamless integration of assets into Unreal Engine, and collaboration with stakeholders to translate artistic vision into virtual environments.

The position also involves keeping abreast of industry developments, mentoring students, developing course materials, conducting research, and aligning curriculum with industry standards in collaboration with the College of Arts animation program.

This is a unique opportunity between Innovative Education and the College of the Arts to contribute to cutting‑edge virtual production projects while shaping the future of the industry through education and mentorship.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical and theoretical foundation, an expansive approach that embraces the evolving role of the moving image in a global society, and a record of producing, presenting, and exhibiting creative original work at the national/international level. They will help shape the future of Animation within the School of Art & Art History and expand the program through interdisciplinary and innovative creative research, including contributing to Innovative Education’s virtual production efforts.

• Terminal degree (MFA) in Animation or MFA in Studio Art, Filmmaking, or a related field with significant professional experience in Animation.
• Proven experience using Epic’s Unreal Engine, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in the material editor, lighting system, Blueprints, and particle systems; a solid understanding of real‑time rendering principles, shading techniques, and optimization strategies.
• Knowledge of current practices, techniques, technology, and issues related to teaching Animation.
• Strong artistic and design sensibilities, with an eye for detail and composition; excellent communication and teamwork skills; ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

• Minimum of two years teaching experience after completion of a terminal degree.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas:
  Storyboarding and Visual Storytelling, Character Design, 3D Modeling, Motion Graphics, Digital Illustration/Concept Art, Character Rigging, and Character Animation.
• Knowledge of 3D content creation software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, Houdini, or Substance Painter to complement Unreal Engine workflows.
• Awareness of contemporary visual culture, animation, and theory.
• Experience collaborating on film or television productions, understanding the unique challenges and workflows involved in integrating virtual production into traditional media.
• Basic understanding of programming languages commonly used in 3D environment development (C++, C#, or Python) for developing custom tools or scripts.
• Demonstrated experience with advanced Unreal Engine features such as Niagara, Sequencer, and Blueprints.
• A record of creative research.

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Artist’s Statement
• Contact information for three references
• Links to a curated online portfolio of work examples (passwords needed if applicable)
• Links to student works that demonstrate teaching effectiveness, accessible online