Senior Effects Technical Director - ILM London

Lucasfilm; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ILM (UK) Ltd. seeks a Senior Effects Technical Director to craft advanced procedural FX setups for feature films and episodic series. You will translate vague briefs into concrete visual directions through rapid prototyping and develop scalable systems for stylized and realistic simulations.

Lead handover-ready workflows, mentor artists, and collaborate with FX Supervisors to raise quality and efficiency across sequences.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Senior Effects TD in feature films and/or episodic TV.
• Advanced proficiency in Houdini.
• Linux and scripting proficiency.
• Please provide a demo reel showcasing experience and technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Translate briefs into multiple visual directions and rapid prototypes.
• Design and build procedural FX systems (RBD, fluids, cloth, particles).
• Set up, wrangle, and optimize simulations for large-scale shots.
• Ensure master setups are organized, documented, and handover-ready.
• Collaborate with FX Supervisors/Leads and mentor artists on the floor.

Skills

Rapid prototyping

Problem solving

Creative direction

Collaboration

Mentoring

Tools

Houdini

Linux

Scripting (Python)

Job description

Description Job Requirements Position Summary: At ILM, Senior Effects Technical Directors operate at the intersection of aesthetic design and technical simulation, tasked with creating advanced procedural setups, simulations, and particle and fluid systems for feature films and episodic series. We seek an artist with strong problem-solving abilities and a keen creative eye, capable of translating vague briefs into distinct visual options through rapid prototyping to establish a creative direction for both stylized effects and natural phenomena. The ideal candidate is capable of building comprehensive systems that empower the broader team to efficiently execute complex tasks across multiple shots. They thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment and consistently strive to deliver work of the highest quality.

What you'll do: Visual Development & Rapid Prototyping: Translate conceptual, often vague briefs into multiple distinct visual directions. Develop quick but highly polished look-dev tests and slap comps to help Directors and VFX Supervisors easily understand and lock in the creative language for both complex stylized phenomena and highly realistic natural simulations. Technical Setup Architecture: Design and build comprehensive, highly procedural FX systems from scratch—including RBD, fluid, cloth, and particle simulations. Set up and wrangle these simulations for large-scale, effects-driven visual effects shots, ensuring master setups output consistent results across entire sequences. User-Centric Engineering & Rendering: Ensure master setups are logically organized, optimized, and ready for handover, removing technical friction so shot artists of varying skill levels can run them efficiently. Establish baseline rendering and lighting workflows, and create or modify surface and volumetric shaders to reduce render times and maintain visual consistency across the broader team. Troubleshooting & Problem Solving: Serve as a key technical resource for the show. Solve complex technical problems and debug intricate simulation and rendering issues once setups are deployed to the wider floor. Pick up new techniques quickly and with ease, continuously raising the benchmark for quality and efficiency. Collaboration, Support, & Mentorship: Partner iteratively with FX Supervisors and Leads to refine effects through both the visual exploration and technical build phases. Drive seamless handovers by providing clear walkthroughs and documentation, while actively mentoring, coaching, and offering creative and technical guidance to artists of all levels.

What we're looking for: Extensive experience as a Senior Effects Technical Director in feature films and/or episodic TV. Ability to work with proficiency, energy, and passion within a team environment. Engages in the creative process with an inclusive and encouraging approach. Demonstrates an excellent aesthetic eye and has the technical know-how to achieve a desired look. Demonstrates strong problem-solving abilities and proactively contributes ideas and suggestions. Advanced proficiency in most aspects within Houdini. Experience and interest in contributing to talent development in the effects department. Linux and scripting proficiency. Please provide a demo reel that showcases your experience and technical skills.

Disclaimer This position is with ILM (UK) Ltd., which is part of a business we call Industrial Light & Magic. To learn more about Disney's guidelines on the use of AI for candidates, click here. ILM (UK) Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world. Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.