Matte Painter​/Environment Generalist; Senior Expression of Interest

Matte Painter / Environment Generalist (Senior & above) - Expression of Interest - Vancouver

We are currently accepting expressions of interest from experienced Senior and above level Environment Generalists for future openings within the Matte Painting Department onsite in Vancouver. We are hiring for a number of exciting TV and Feature Film projects.

Our Matte Painting team operates as a fully integrated environment generalist department, working across the complete spectrum of environment creation. From procedural world building and USD-based scene assembly in Houdini Solaris, through to 2.5D and compositing workflows. We work in close partnership with other departments across Wētā FX to create, extend and enhance photo-real environments at the highest level. Workflows are USD-native, and Houdini centric - we're looking for artists who are as comfortable working within scene graph architecture as they are with their artistic eye.

Applicants should have several years of experience creating the highest level, photoreal CG environments for feature films utilising a wide variety of both 3D, 2.5D and procedural environment methodologies.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and supporting the technical approach to Matte Painting work across a project, maintaining consistency with existing solutions as well as adapting to emerging workflows
• Conducting regularly scheduled rounds, overseeing and supporting matte painters on your team
• Participating in bidding and scheduling of work with the HOD and Department Production
• Representing the Matte Painting team at meetings such as show dailies, etc
• Creating, extending or enhancing environments using a variety of fully rendered 3D as well as 2.5D Digimatte methodologies
• Developing Env assets and lookdev to support DMP work across an environment or sequence
• Integrating photographic and rendered elements to achieve photo-real results
• Efficient and accessible organization of complex 3D and 2.5D set ups to share with other artists
• Collaborating across disciplines to deliver shot work while supporting various departments' needs
• Assisting show and dept supervision/management when planning workflows and scheduling work
• Effectively communicating with artists, supervisors, and production daily to flag issues and offer solutions
• Maintaining a high-level standard of quality of delivery from your team across a project

Our successful candidate will:

• Work closely with both artists and production to deliver high level work efficiently within a production schedule
• Be highly organized and have experience managing multiple artists' work across a high volume of tasks and projects
• Have great communication skills, being able to clearly and confidently convey ideas, issues and solutions to people across multiple departments and disciplines
• Be proactive, flexible and collaborative in their approach to work and their interactions with others
• Bring a positive, empathetic and charismatic manner to their leadership, building strong relationships within their team and across company
• Be a problem solver, confidently resolving issues for their team regarding process and pipeline while enabling others in the process through assistance and training

Primary requirements

• 5+ years of applicable experience creating photoreal Environment work within a feature film, games or similar production
• Extensive professional experience with Maya, Houdini, Solaris, Nuke and Photoshop
• Recent experience and proficiency with Lighting, Compositing, Modelling, Lookdev, and Layout processes as related to Environment work
• Experience with Procedural modelling, layout and lookdev processes
• Exposure to Linux/KDE
• BFA or equivalent in Painting, Photography, Computer Graphics or similar
• Interest in painting, drawing, sculpting, etc
• Experience with Conceptual illustration or design

Pay range: CAD $59.50–$70.00 per hour, depending on skills and experience, based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on role and business needs. The rate offered will take into account an individual's job-related knowledge, skills and experience, among other factors. We offer a range of healthcare benefits, RRSP matching, sick and vacation leave.

We aim to provide a discrimination‑free experience, beginning from the moment you apply for a role with us.