Lead Effects Technical Director - ILM London

Disneyland Hong Kong; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned entertainment company in Greater London is seeking an experienced Lead Effects Technical Director to oversee effects work on high-end VFX projects. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in leading creative teams, possess expert knowledge of Houdini, and excel in problem-solving. This hybrid role involves working at the company location for at least one day per week while also collaborating remotely, ensuring effective communication and quality standards are maintained in all projects.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a lead effects artist in high-end VFX projects.
• Ability to effectively communicate and provide feedback.
• Strong problem-solving skills and efficiency balancing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the effects work on a show or sequence.
• Lead technical development of effects setups and tools.
• Provide feedback to artists and collaborate across departments.
• Participate in production meetings and manage shot assignments.

Skills

Lead effects artist experience

Houdini knowledge

Linux proficiency

Mentoring skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Job description

Lead Effects Technical Director - ILM London

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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