Blender Generalist - Visual Development Artist

Framestore VR Studio; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Framestore VR Studio in Montreal seeks a versatile Blender generalist to lead look development, lighting and rendering across creatures, environments and FX. You’ll bridge concepting with final VFX execution using Blender as the primary tool, and collaborate closely with supervisors and production teams.

Extensive Blender experience plus knowledge of other DCCs (Maya, Houdini, ZBrush, Nuke) is preferred. The role sits in a dynamic VisDev team, contributing to high-end cinematic visuals in a

Qualifications

• Extensive Blender experience across the full generalist pipeline (modelling, sculpting, UVs, shading/texturing, lighting, rendering).
• Strong portfolio showing frame and shot composition for VFX.
• Solid experience in film VFX 3D processes and cinematography in virtual environments.
• Proactive at identifying and resolving visual issues while maintaining quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-end photorealistic visuals across creatures, environments and FX from blockout to final frame.
• Sculpt and detail creatures, build environments and art-direct FX moments.
• Work end-to-end in Blender: modelling, sculpting, shading, lighting and rendering.
• Set up look development and lighting that hold up to photoreal scrutiny.
• Create shaders and materials using Blender’s node system and manage node setups.

Skills

Blender

Look development

Lighting

Shading/texturing

Camera/virtual cinematography

Node-based work

Tools

Maya

Houdini

ZBrush

Substance

Nuke

Mari

Job description

The multi-Oscar-winning creative Film & Episodic Studio at Framestore has worked with some of the greatest storytellers in film today. Collaborating with directors and producers across the complete filmmaking process to help design, plan and create beautiful images, we focus on finding innovative creative solutions to support their vision and set new standards for visual effects in cinema.

Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to everything we create. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

About the role

This is an existing role within our team for a versatile, creatively curious artist who loves solving complex visual puzzles across the full 3D pipeline. As part of our Visual Development team, you’ll bridge the gap between initial concepting and final VFX execution.

Blender is central to how our VisDev team designs and crafts key sequences early in production - extensively powering our work on shows like IF, Loki S2 , and How To Train Your Dragon, to name only a few.

With Blender as your primary tool, you’ll move fluidly between modelling, look development, lighting and rendering - equally comfortable turning your hand to creatures, environments and FX - to define visual benchmarks and answer creative and technical questions early across a wide range of subject matter.

What you’ll do:

• Develop high-end, photorealistic visual development assets across a broad range of subject matter - from creatures and characters to full environments and complex FX - taking designs from blockout through to finished frame.
• Sculpt and detail creatures, build and dress environments, and art-direct FX moments (destruction, fluids, smoke, particles) to establish look, scale and mood early.
• Work end-to-end in Blender - modelling, sculpting, shading and texturing, lighting and rendering - picking up whichever part of the pipeline a given problem needs.
• Build look development and lighting setups that hold up to photoreal scrutiny, and create shaders and materials using Blender’s node system.
• Use procedural and node-based workflows, such as Geometry Nodes and simulation, to explore and iterate on environments and FX at pace.
• Collaborate with supervisors and the HOD to ensure your work supports a smooth transition into 2D/3D production, handing off clean, well-structured scenes.
• Communicate your creative process clearly, breaking down complex technical workflows for both artists and stakeholders, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and process sharing.

Requirements

What we’re looking for:

• Extensive Blender experience across the full generalist pipeline - modelling, sculpting, UVs, shading/texturing, lighting and rendering.
• A visual background with a strong portfolio in frame and shot composition.
• Solid experience in film VFX 3D processes and a good grasp of cinematography in virtual environments.
• Confidence in building look development and lighting that stands up to photoreal scrutiny, including shader/material creation in Blender’s node system.
• A proactive approach to identifying and resolving visual issues while maintaining quality and logic.
• The ability to take direction well while maintaining organised scenes, .blend files, node setups, and documents.

You might also have

• Geometry Nodes and other procedural or node-based workflows (and comfort scripting small tools where useful).
• Working knowledge of complementary DCCs (e.g. Maya, Houdini, ZBrush, Substance, Nuke).
• Experience with Digital Matte Painting, or simulation and FX work (cloth, fluids, particles, hair/fur).
• Familiarity with Texture packages like Mari and a working knowledge of practical cameras, lighting, or physics.

Accessibility Statement

Our Montreal studio has universal access, with step-free entry, accessible toilets, and quiet spaces available. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace for everyone and continue to improve accessibility to ensure all employees feel supported.