Directeur.rice technique des effets | FX Technical Director

Framestore VR Studio; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Framestore VR Studio in Montreal seeks an experienced FX Technical Director to design and simulate fire, smoke, water, and debris for high-end cinema and immersive projects.

You will collaborate with lighting, shading, and production teams, push procedural FX pipelines, and deliver clean composites using Maya, Houdini and Nuke. Strong scripting (Vex, hscript, Mel) and Python are essential, with deep understanding of FX processes.

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of Houdini and/or Maya.
• Strong FX simulation techniques for smoke, fire, water, steam and explosions.
• Understanding of the FX process and animation integration.
• Experience with pipeline issues and multi-package workflows.
• Proficiency in at least one compositing tool (e.g. Nuke).
• Scripting skills in Vex, hscript and Mel; Python and Unix shell helpful.

Responsibilities

• Create particle, rigid-body, fluid, cloth, fur or hair simulations.
• Apply lighting and shaders; pass results to Lighting TD as needed.
• Use Maya, Houdini and related tools to execute FX tasks.
• Collaborate with other departments to deliver shots to high standards.
• Develop design solutions and procedural approaches for effects.
• Produce composites of FX elements; sometimes handle final renders.

Skills

FX simulation

Procedural thinking

Scripting (Vex, hscript, Mel)

Animation eye

Pipeline familiarity

C/C++ programming

Python

Unix shell scripting

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Nuke

HDK / Maya API

Job description

A multi Oscar-winning creative studio, we have 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, whether in film, TV, advertising or immersive experiences. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

FX Technical Directors create CG renditions of naturalistic physical or magical phenomena such as fire, water, clouds, smoke, physical destruction, and particulate.

What you’ll do:

• Creating particle, rigid-body, fluid, cloth, fur and/or hair simulations or animations


• Applying lighting and shaders to produce the final rendered image or passing the simulation on to a Lighting Technical Director


• Using a variety of commercial and proprietary FX tools including Maya, Houdini


• Working in partnership with other departments to ensure that shots are delivered to the highest possible standard


• Working within the team to determine the various design solutions needed to create the effects


• Designing and creating images, elements, effects, pipelines, tools and techniques


• Helping to design solutions involving a more procedural approach in order to create the effects required


• Producing reviewable composites of all FX elements for a shot. Sometimes FX TDs will be expected to produce final renders too

Requirements

What we’re looking for:

• An excellent knowledge of Houdini and/or Maya


• A thorough understanding of the techniques and technologies relating to FX simulation and procedural animation


• Previous experience producing effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam and explosions in addition to simulation techniques for rigid-bodies, cloth and hair


• A good understanding of animation and an eye for motion


• A good understanding of the entire visual effects process


• A familiarity with pipeline issues, especially working between multiple packages


• A working knowledge of at least one compositing application (e.g. Nuke) and a solid understanding of the compositing process


• Strong Vex, hscript and/or Mel scripting skills

You might also have:

• Programming skills with C/C++ along with knowledge of the Houdini HDK and/or Maya API


• Python and Unix shell scripting


• Experience with other render packages

Framestore is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.