FX Supervisor (Redefine)

DNEG Group; Australia; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

DNEG Group in Australia is seeking an experienced FX Supervisor to lead the FX/CFX department for a CG Animated Feature Production. You will design, supervise, and execute effects, ensuring quality within approved scope and bid days, working closely with Production and cross- department leads.

You will guide artists, implement Houdini-based workflows, and leverage Python/VEX scripting for pipeline efficiency, while coordinating with VFX and CG supervisors to meet creative and technical

Qualifications

• Experience leading FX/CFX teams in feature animation.
• Proven ability to design and execute simulations within bid days.
• Strong knowledge of Houdini and integration with Unreal Engine.
• Scripting in Python or VEX for pipeline automation.

Responsibilities

• Establish creative and technical approaches for approved FX/CFX work, including simulations and procedural effects.
• Guide artists and maintain consistent FX and CFX quality aligned with the production’s approved creative direction.
• Lead day-to-day FX and CFX execution and provide creative and technical direction to FX artists.
• Coordinate assignments, priorities, and deliveries with Production.
• Track progress against approved shot scope and bid-day allocations.
• Design solutions that can be executed within the approved scope and predetermined bid days.
• Identify risks, overruns, or requests that exceed approved parameters and communicate them promptly to Production.
• Work with the VFX Supervisor on overall creative intent and final image requirements.

Skills

FX/CFX leadership

Houdini expertise

Python scripting

Unreal Engine workflows

Team guidance

Tools

Houdini

Unreal Engine

Python

VEX

Job description

CG Animated Feature Production

Position Overview:

The FX Supervisor is responsible for the creative and technical design, supervision, and execution of effects within the FX Department. Working in conjunction with Production, the FX Supervisor ensures that approved FX work is delivered to the required quality within its established scope and predetermined bid days.

Key Responsibilities

Creative and Technical Design

• Establish creative and technical approaches for approved FX and CFX work, including simulations and procedural effects.
• Guide artists and maintain consistent FX and CFX quality aligned with the production’s approved creative direction.
• Expert knowledge of Houdini.
• Programming or scripting skills (e.g. Python and VEX), depending on the area of specialisation.
• Experience with Unreal Engine workflows, including integration between Houdini and Unreal Engine pipelines.

Departmental Execution

• Lead day-to-day FX and CFX execution and provide creative and technical direction to FX artists.
• Coordinate assignments, priorities, and deliveries with Production.
• Track progress against approved shot scope and bid-day allocations.

Scope and Bid-Day Management

• Design solutions that can be executed within the approved scope and predetermined bid days.
• Identify risks, overruns, or requests that exceed approved parameters and communicate them promptly to Production.
• Do not expand scope, extend bid days, or commit additional resources without appropriate Production approval.

Collaboration

• Work with the VFX Supervisor on overall creative intent and final image requirements.
• Work with the CG Supervisor on technical standards, pipeline integration, and cross-departmental dependencies.
• Keep Production informed of progress, risks, and delivery requirements.

Authority and Accountability:

The FX Supervisor is responsible for determining how the approved FX work is executed, while Production is responsible for managing what has been approved, how much time is allocated, and what resources are available. This separation establishes clear departmental creative and technical authority while retaining production management authority over scope, bid days, and resources. The FX Supervisor is accountable for delivery quality, execution within approved scope and bid days, and early escalation of potential deviations. Changes to approved parameters require Production authorization.