Lead Texture Artist - Feature Animation

Industrial Light & Magic; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animation studio based in London is seeking a Lead Texture Artist to join their Feature Animation team. This role requires significant experience in feature animation projects and the ability to guide a team while delivering photoreal and stylized textured assets. The candidate should be proficient in tools like Mari and comfortable with character and large-scale assets. The position offers a hybrid work model with required on-site attendance at least two days a week.

Qualifications

• Significant experience at a Lead level in Feature Animation.
• Ability to maintain asset presentation standards.
• Flexibility with character and large-scale assets.
• Comfort in delivering hero textures beyond reference.
• Experience working closely with production.
• Technical skills in Mari and procedural workflows.

Responsibilities

• Help with handoffs and communicate asset goals.
• Collaborate to solve complex issues.
• Develop workflow strategies for complex assets.
• Contribute to the look and rendering aspects.
• Support set dressing artists with materials.

Skills

Lead level experience in Feature Animation Projects

Team asset presentation standards

Flexibility across different asset types

Comfort in delivering detailed textures

Ability to distill creative vision

Close collaboration with production

Technical skills in Mari

Understanding of Feature Animation pipeline

Texture development using procedural workflows

Experience with Houdini and Substance Designer

Tools

Mari

Renderman

Katana

Houdini

Substance Designer

Shotgun

Job description

Overview

At Industrial Light & Magic, we push the boundaries of feature animation by blending artistic vision with cutting-edge technology. We are looking for a Lead Texture Artist to join our Feature Animation team who reflects the collaborative mindset, excellence, and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM. The Lead Texture Artist will guide other artists, support project delivery, and create photoreal and stylized textured assets for extreme close-up and hero use while reviewing texture work and managing show expectations. Prior experience in feature animation is essential.

Responsibilities

• Help with handoffs and communicate asset goals and notes between artists, production, and supervision.
• Collaborate with Supervisors and department heads to determine the best approach for complex issues.
• Initiate and develop workflow strategies for complex assets.
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team, including Modelers, Lookdev TDs, and other Texture Artists, to contribute to the desired look and rendering aspects of assets.
• Support environment and set dressing artists with texture-based materials and templates.

Qualifications

• Significant proven experience in Feature Animation Projects at a Lead level with a track record of delivering complex shots to high quality.
• Ability to maintain the team’s asset presentation and delivery standards across multiple shows.
• Flexibility working across character, hard surface, and large-scale assets.
• Comfort in delivering hero texture needs beyond the level of detail provided in reference.
• Ability to distill a creative vision from clients into actionable notes for artists.
• Experience working closely with production on a large-scale feature.
• Technical skills in Mari; understanding of a full Feature Animation pipeline; strong texture development using procedural workflows and hand-painted methods.
• Willingness to explore look development in software such as Renderman and Katana.
• Ability to use node networks such as Houdini and Substance Designer is a plus; Shotgun experience is a plus.

How to Apply

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, requiring a minimum of 2 days on-site per week at a Company designated location, with occasional work from home.

Join ILM. Reference: ECNJOBID-3-67-103-209 in the application.