Crowd Technical Director

Industrial Light & Magic; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading visual effects studio in Greater London is seeking a Crowd TD to create crowd simulations for CG scenes. The role focuses on choreographing crowd behavior and requires strong skills in Houdini along with excellent problem-solving abilities. Candidates should have experience in high-end VFX or animated films and be comfortable collaborating in a hybrid work environment. Interested applicants should submit a demo reel, resume, and application by 8th January 2026.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Houdini Software.
• In-depth understanding of cinematic principles and composition.
• Experience working with motion capture and/or animation.

Responsibilities

• Create crowd simulations for CG scenes.
• Manage motions and cycles for the show.
• Collaborate within the crowd team and share knowledge.

Skills

Houdini Software

Problem-solving skills

Cinematic principles

Crowd behavior observation

High-end VFX experience

Motion capture experience

Linux proficiency

Communication skills

Tools

Vex

Python

Maya

Job description

Crowd TD (All Levels) - ILM London

Job Summary

We are looking for a Crowd TD who reflects the creative talent, collaborative mindset and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM. This is a fixed‑term contract for up to six months. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK; sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Position Summary

The main focus of the position will be to create crowd simulations for our CG scenes, using either off‑the‑shelf and our own proprietary software to populate cities, large scale environments and choreograph battles.

What You'll Do

• Choreograph or simulate the behaviour of crowds in shots, meeting the artistic direction of the show supervisor.
• Manage the motions and cycles used on your show, including creating blending cycles.
• Creatively use existing motion and character variations to create visual diversity within a crowd.
• Assist in developing efficient workflows within Houdini, including creating and modifying internal HDAs.
• Troubleshoot technical issues within Houdini and the wider pipeline.
• Work with Production and your lead to meet the show deadlines.
• Communicate with artists across disciplines to work effectively as part of the wider show team.
• Attend dailies to present your work and receive feedback from the show supervisor.
• Collaborate within the crowd team, sharing knowledge and contributing to the development of the department.

What We're Looking For

• Strong knowledge of Houdini Software.
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills with the ability to address technical and artistic challenges.
• In‑depth understanding of cinematic principles and composition.
• Keen eye for how crowds flock and move / behavioural observations.
• Background working on high‑end VFX, animated feature‑film and video‑games.
• Experience working with motion capture and/or clip‑based animation.
• Proficiency with Linux.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high quality of work while respecting strict deadlines.

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency scripting in Vex and/or Python.
• Strong understanding of Houdini input/output pipeline.
• Experience with cloth/hair/muscle simulations.
• Working knowledge of Maya and rigging.

The closing date for applications: 8th January 2026

As part of your application please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.

This role is Hybrid, which means the employee will be required to work a minimum of 1 day on‑site per week at a Company designated location, and occasionally from home.

JoinILM

Reference: ECNJOBID-91-199-253-175 in the application