ILM Immersive Senior VFX Artist

We are looking for a creative technologist who is passionate about bringing the latest technical trends in real-time development to their craft, and who reflects the innovative spirit and storytelling that defines ILM Immersive.

The Senior VFX Artist designs and creates cinematic-quality, yet optimized visual effects using animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, particle and fluid systems for our next-generation immersive experiences. This role acts as a key liaison between the content and engineering teams and facilitates problem solving, strategies, and implementations between departments.

What You’ll Do

• Conceive, prototype, implement technically advanced visuals and procedural systems
• Partner with the art and engineering teams to understand, define and manage project technical requirements and project asset production
• Look/dev passes of environmental supporting elements, atmospherics, lighting, post-processes and other VFX for scene / level; actively participate in optimizations, identify, triage, and fix bugs as required
• Explore and implement new tools and techniques to continuously push the visual bar to the leading edge using scripting (Blueprints, Python) and rapid prototypes
• Mentor and collaborate with other VFX and Technical Artists to improve studio tools and pipelines
• Proactively identify problems, propose solutions, and seek out buy-in from the team regarding implementation strategy
• Provide hands-on support to the development team for asset performance profiling and optimization; identify, triage, and fix bugs as required
• Standardize and improve best practices for production of real-time VFX assets and related pipeline
• Innovate discipline workflows and keep up to date on new tools/applications/trends in the industry

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years experience in games, film, television, AR/VR or related fields
• Strong 3D art skills with experience and deep understanding of optimizing and constructing modeling, texturing, uv mapping, animation, shading, lighting and particle effects for real-time workflows
• Houdini: Deep understanding and experience creating simulations and assets in Houdini - bonus points for creating Houdini assets for use in real-time game engines
• Unreal Engine: extensive experience working with UE workflows - blueprints, material networks, real-time lighting and simulations, post processing
• Shaders: in-depth knowledge of real-time shader implementations, limitations of shaders in VR, strong knowledge of PBR pipelines and subsurface shaders
• Materials: extensive experience in the development, authoring & organization of efficient node-based materials, hierarchies, material functions, and custom shaders via the UE4 material editor
• Experience with programming/scripting languages such as Python, C++, C#, Java, VEX, or MEL and a proficiency with linear algebra
• Nice to haves: Maya, Blender, Substance Designer, Substance Painter, and/or Photoshop, and experience in both film/VFX and games production
• Familiarity with profiling tools in the examination & diagnosis of performance issues
• Team-player mindset: open & receptive to ideas, constructive feedback, direction and changes
• Ability to work independently and efficiently under tight deadlines
• Works well with direction, but also is self-motivated and will seek out or devise solutions to unexpected challenges

*A portfolio / reel submission - including a detailed breakdown of your work in each section - is required with all applications*

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $127,100 to $158,900 per year. 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 bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.