Look Development TD — Hybrid Shader & Lighting Expert

The Film Market; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ILM is seeking a Look Development Technical Director to drive high-quality lookdev and shading for CG assets, with minimal direction from leads. The role is hybrid, requiring two on-site days per week at a Company designated location and occasional remote work.

The candidate will collaborate with texture and groom artists, master shading networks, and contribute to the overall look of shots across the VFX pipeline.

Qualifications

• Previous experience creating both hero assets & props in Look Development.
• Demonstrable Lighting and Rendering experience within a VFX environment
• Proven knowledge of real world materials
• Proficiency with asset optimisation
• Comprehensive knowledge of physically based rendering and shader models
• Ability to work and communicate with texture and groom artists to get the best possible results
• A strong grasp of geometry formatting, including but not limited to Primvars.
• Ability to build and maintain complex shading networks with artist usability and user-interface support in mind
• Knowledge of Katana is essential, Houdini and Maya beneficial
• A solid understanding of the fundamentals of neighbouring departments. FX, Texture, Groom, and Lighting
• Excellent knowledge of Renderman or other unbiased rendering systems
• Aesthetic eye, anticipates potential problems and uses existing software knowledge to achieve the desired look
• Can work collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to prioritise tasks, manage time well, provide everyone with accurate time estimates on shot task completion
• A thorough understanding of the VFX pipeline from modelling through animation, texturing, rendering and compositing
• Ability to pick up new techniques and the ability to learn new software quickly and easily

Skills

Lighting

Rendering

Materials

Asset optimisation

Physically Based Rendering

Shader models

Primvars

Shading networks

Texture collaboration

Team collaboration

Time estimation

VFX pipeline

Software learning

Tools

Katana

Houdini

Maya

RenderMan

Job description

ILM is seeking a Look Development Technical Director to drive high-quality lookdev and shading for CG assets, with minimal direction from leads. The role is hybrid, requiring two on-site days per week at a Company designated location and occasional remote work.

The candidate will collaborate with texture and groom artists, master shading networks, and contribute to the overall look of shots across the VFX pipeline.