Lead Effects Technical Director - ILM London

The Walt Disney Company (France); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company is seeking a Lead Effects Technical Director to oversee effects work in film projects. You will lead a team of talented effects artists, ensuring high standards and being actively involved in creative and technical developments. Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills are essential, along with expert-level knowledge of Houdini. This hybrid role requires at least one day on-site per week, offering an exciting opportunity in the VFX industry.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a lead effects artist in high-end feature film or episodic VFX projects.
• Ability to deliver constructive feedback and engage with team members.
• Strong understanding of the computer graphics pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the effects team on shows or sequences.
• Develop effects setups and tools creatively and technically.
• Provide feedback on artistic quality and technical efficiency.

Skills

Leadership in creative teams

Effective communication

Problem-solving skills

Expert knowledge of Houdini

Proficiency in Linux

Job description

Position Summary

At ILM, Lead Effects Technical Directors are primarily responsible for leading a team of Effects Artists on a show. They work as hands‑on collaborators alongside the Effects, CG, and VFX supervisors to ensure all effects work meets ILM’s standards.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong ability to manage and inspire a team, balancing the pursuit of creative excellence with the practical demands of timely delivery.

What you’ll do:

• Oversee the effects work on a show or sequence.
• Spearhead the creative and technical development of effects setups and tools.
• Provide clear, constructive, and consistent creative and technical feedback to artists at both shot and sequence levels.
• Partner with other disciplines to develop cross‑department solutions and improvements.
• Establish benchmarks for excellence within the team, driving continuous improvements in artistic quality, technical efficiency, and overall output speed.
• Collaborate with production to accurately bid, schedule, and assign shot work to the team.
• Proactively participate in production meetings to ensure clear and effective communication.
• Taking ownership of the more complex setups and shots.

What we’re looking for:

• Considerable or significant proven experience as a lead effects artist in multiple high‑end feature film or episodic VFX projects.
• A constructive communicator who can effectively deliver feedback and engage in discussions with artists and supervisors.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills, with the ability to balance creative output and efficiency.
• Expert‑level knowledge of Houdini and a deep understanding of the computer graphics pipeline.
• Proficiency with Linux and scripting.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing artists.

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.

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