Senior Groom Artist

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2‑3 days onsite at a company‑designated location and occasionally from home.

ILM Vancouver is growing, and we’re looking for an outstanding artist to join our Groom team! ILM’s Groom team works alongside our Digital Model Shop (DMS) and Creature teams to create hair, fur, and feather grooms for characters, creatures, costumes, and props as part of the Creature / Character pipeline for high‑end VFX projects.

At ILM, we believe a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it comes from! Do you thrive in a creative environment? Do you enjoy sharing knowledge and learning from others? If you love art, technology, and movies, then this might be the role you’re looking for! ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and the Groom team embraces promising individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

• Build assets either fully or partially covered in hair, fur, or feathers using Houdini.
• Collaborate with Groom leadership, Modeling, Texture, Look Development, and VFX Supervisor to identify and build the "look" for an asset.
• Work with production and show leadership to deliver high‑quality assets on time that meet all department needs.
• Present your work in dailies and discuss all aspects of the asset as needed.
• Use your groom abilities for other non‑character assets such as props or costumes.

• Portfolio demonstrating strong groom skills, with a solid understanding of hair, fur, and feather types and character design.
• 5+ years proven experience crafting digital creatures and characters in a VFX studio environment. Additional animation experience is a plus.
• Phenomenal creative and interpersonal skills to work with team members from other departments, assist asset development, and showcase your own ideas while interpreting others’ vision.
• Excellent time‑management skills with the ability to share your time between multiple shows when needed.
• Strong ability to self‑assess the right approach and to know when to contact supervision or other departments for help.
• A deep knowledge of film and video post‑production techniques and a good understanding of the full VFX pipeline.
• Proficiency with Houdini, ability to troubleshoot complex issues, and help drive development. VEX knowledge is a plus.
• Knowledge of Linux is a necessity to navigate ILM’s production pipeline.

As part of your application please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.

• Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment Type:
  
  Full‑time
• Job Function:
  Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology
• Industry: Entertainment Providers

Compensation:
The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C $110,600 to C $141,500 per year based on a 40‑hour work week. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits may be offered depending on level and position.

Join ILM.