Senior Look Development Technical Director - ILM London

Lucasfilm; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ILM (UK) Ltd. is seeking a Senior Look Development Technical Director to produce high-quality lookdev and shading for CG assets.

You will work with Lighting Supervisors and CG Supervisors to determine the best approach to solving CG challenges and create efficient shader setups to optimize render farm usage. You will design, implement and maintain complex shading networks for hero assets, ensuring usability for artists and delivering assets on production deadlines.

Qualifications

• Experience creating hero assets and props in Look Development.
• Experience with lighting and rendering 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 build and maintain complex shading networks for usability and UI support.
• Strong grasp of geometry formatting, including Primvars.

Responsibilities

• Design and create the look of computer generated objects and scenes.
• Work with Lighting and CG Supervisors to determine best approaches for final look.
• Create efficient shader setups to optimise render farm usage.
• Maintain standard material libraries using shading templates for consistency.
• Design and maintain complex shading networks for hero assets as needed.
• Deliver high-quality assets within production deadlines.
• Triages technical issues and resolves lookdev challenges.
• Collaborate with texture and groom artists to achieve optimal results.
• Manage multiple assets in a shot context.

Skills

Hero assets lookdev

Lighting in VFX

PBR shading

Shader networks

Asset optimisation

Primvars geometry

Team collaboration

Communication

Tools

Katana

Houdini

Maya

RenderMan

Job description

Description Position Summary

We are looking for Senior Look Development Technical Directors who reflect the creative talent, collaborative mindset and passion for great filmmaking that defines ILM. The Senior Look Development Technical Director is responsible for producing high-quality lookdev and shading for our CG assets, needing only initial direction and guidance from their Lead or Supervisor.

What You’ll Do Design and create the look of computer generated objects and scenes

Work closely with Lighting Supervisors and CG Supervisors to determine the best approach to solving CG challenges when developing the final look

Create efficient shader setups in order to optimise render farm usage

Manage and maintain standard material libraries using established shading templates for consistency and pipeline efficiency.

Design, implement, and maintain complex, custom shading networks and materials for high-priority ("hero") assets when bespoke solutions are required.

What We’re Looking For Previous experience creating both hero assets & props in Look Development.

Experience with lighting and rendering 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

Strong ability to triage technical issues

Ability to resolve complex lookdev challenges

Deliver high-quality assets within production deadlines

Proven ability to work on large-scale environments

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

Ability to manage multiple assets in a shot context

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

This role is Hybrid, which means the employee will be required to work a minimum of 2 days on-site per week at a Company designated location, and occasionally from home.

JoinILM

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.