Senior FX Artist

FIN VFX; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Fin VFX is seeking a Senior FX Artist for a full-time, hybrid position based in Sydney, NSW, with optional work-from-home days. You will design, create, and refine complex visual effects for film, television, and high-end content, collaborating closely with supervisors, CG leads, and compositors to deliver top-quality FX shots.

You will optimize FX setups, troubleshoot issues, and mentor junior artists, upholding consistent standards across sequences while contributing to workflow and tool

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of Houdini and Maya for FX creation and scene management.
• Strong lighting and compositing to integrate FX with CG and live-action plates.
• Solid animation principles to drive realistic motion in simulations.
• Experience with game development workflows or real-time engines is advantageous.
• Familiarity with popular FX tools (Phoenix, RealFlow, FumeFX) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, create, and refine complex visual effects for film, TV, and high-end content.
• Collaborate with supervisors, CG leads, and compositors to translate briefs into FX shots.
• Optimize FX setups for efficient rendering and iteration; troubleshoot technical issues.
• Mentor junior artists and contribute to workflow and pipeline improvements.

Skills

Houdini

Autodesk Maya for FX

Lighting

Compositing

Animation principles

Game development workflows

Real-time engines

FX pipelines

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Visual effects qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Phoenix

RealFlow

FumeFX

Job description

Company Description

Fin VFX is an Australian visual effects company with studios in Sydney, Melbourne, Ballina, Gold Coast, and Adelaide. Established in 2001, Fin is home to a highly awarded, close-knit team of VFX artists, supervisors, and producers who bring deep collective experience to every project. The studio focuses on tailored, project-specific approaches and values creative partnerships and close collaboration with clients. Operating at the forefront of the evolving digital landscape, Fin combines flexibility, passion, and technical excellence to deliver outstanding visual results. A diverse and approachable production team works closely with artists and clients across all stages of digital production and content creation.

Role Description

The Senior FX Artist is a full-time, hybrid role based in Sydney, NSW, with the option for some work-from-home days. In this role, the artist will design, create, and refine complex visual effects such as simulations, particles, fluids, destruction, and environmental effects for film, television, and high-end content. Day-to-day responsibilities include collaborating with supervisors, CG leads, and compositors to translate creative briefs into high-quality FX shots, integrating assets seamlessly into live-action and CG scenes, and optimizing FX setups for efficient rendering and iteration. The Senior FX Artist will troubleshoot technical issues, maintain consistent quality and style across sequences, and provide mentorship and feedback to junior artists. The role also involves participating in dailies, communicating progress clearly, and contributing to the improvement of workflows, tools, and FX pipelines.

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency with Houdini, Autodesk Maya for FX creation, animation workflows, and scene management.
• Demonstrated skills in Lighting and Compositing to ensure FX integrate seamlessly with CG and live-action plates.
• Experience with Animation principles to drive realistic motion and timing in simulations and FX elements.
• Background or familiarity with Game Development workflows, real-time engines, or interactive FX is an advantage.
• Experience with industry-standard FX tools and plugins (e.g., Houdini, Phoenix, RealFlow, FumeFX, or similar) is highly beneficial.
• Strong understanding of VFX pipelines, rendering, and asset management, with the ability to optimize scenes for performance.
• Proven experience in a senior or lead FX role within a VFX studio environment, with a portfolio demonstrating high-quality work.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in a team-oriented, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to mentor and support junior artists, provide constructive feedback, and uphold consistent creative standards.
• Relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience in visual effects, animation, digital media, or a related field.