Crowd Technical Director

Crowd Technical Director - Expression of Interest

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

This posting is an opportunity to submit your resume for future consideration; this is not a role that is open at this time. We anticipate this role will be open in Spring 2026, but we are not actively hiring for the position. If you would like to be considered for this potential role, please submit your resume. If the role becomes available, you may receive an email or call from a recruiter.

The main focus of the position will be to create crowd simulations for our CG scenes, using either off the shelf or our own proprietary software to populate cities, large scale environments and choreograph battles.

At ILM, we strive to be an inclusive environment, and we are committed to considering promising individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences for this position.

• Choreograph the motion and behaviour of crowds in shots, meeting the artistic direction of the show supervisor.
• Manage the motions and cycles used on your show, including creating blending cycles.
• Assist in developing efficient workflows within Houdini, including creating and modifying internal HDAs.
• Creatively use existing motion and character variations to create visual diversity within a crowd.
• Troubleshoot technical issues within Houdini and the wider pipeline.
• Work with Production and your lead to meet the show deadlines.
• Communicate with artists across disciplines to work effectively as part of the wider show team.
• Attend dailies to present your work and receive feedback from the show supervisor.
• Collaborate within the crowd team, sharing knowledge and contributing to the development of the department.

• Strong knowledge of Houdini Software
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills with the ability to address technical and artistic challenges
• In‑depth understanding of cinematic principles and composition
• Background working on high‑end VFX or animated feature‑film productions
• Experience working with motion capture and/or clip‑based animation
• Proficiency with Linux
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines whilst maintaining a high quality output

• Proficiency scripting in Vex and/or Python
• Strong understanding of Houdini input/output pipeline
• Experience with cloth/hair simulation
• Working knowledge of Maya and rigging
• Keen eye for how crowds flock and move

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

JoinILM

The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C $98,800 to C $126,400 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

A full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.

Specify Locations