Lead FX Artist

Omens Animation Studios; Selangor; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animation studio in Malaysia seeks a Lead FX Artist to oversee the creative and technical direction of FX work. You will collaborate closely with Directors and other leads, ensuring high-quality visual effects that align with production requirements. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years in VFX, exceptional leadership skills, and proficiency in tools like Houdini and Unreal Engine. This role offers the opportunity to work on diverse projects in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in a senior or lead FX role.
• Strong understanding of FX principles and production pipelines.
• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard tools.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to define and deliver FX requirements for the project.
• Lead and mentor the FX team for consistent quality.
• Oversee FX pipeline development and optimization.

Skills

FX simulation principles

Leadership

Communication

Artistic eye

Education

7+ years in Film, Animation, or VFX

Tools

Houdini

Unreal Engine

Maya

Bifrost

Job description

Overview

The Lead FX Artist is responsible for overseeing the creative and technical direction of all FX work on a project. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality visual effects that align with the artistic vision, production requirements, and pipeline standards. The Lead FX Artist works closely with Directors, CG Supervisors, Producers, and other Department Leads, while guiding and mentoring the FX team throughout production.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Directors, CG Supervisor, and Producers to define, plan, and deliver FX requirements for the project.
• Lead, mentor, and support the FX team, ensuring consistent quality, efficiency, and artistic standards.
• Define FX approaches, workflows, and technical solutions in collaboration with Animation, Modelling, Look Dev, Lighting, and Compositing departments.
• Design, review, and approve high-quality FX including water, fire, smoke, explosions, clouds, debris, magical effects, and other simulations.
• Oversee FX pipeline development and optimization in collaboration with TDs and Pipeline teams.
• Work with Rigging teams on character-related FX such as cloth, hair, and character simulations when required.
• Anticipate production challenges and proactively propose solutions within time and budget constraints.

Requirements

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in Film, Animation, or VFX, with proven experience in a senior or lead FX role.
• Strong understanding of FX principles, production pipelines, and cross-department workflows.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.
• Strong artistic eye with solid understanding of light, colour, contrast, shading, and visual storytelling through FX.
• In-depth knowledge of FX simulations including fluids, cloth, fur, hair, and procedural effects.
• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Houdini, Unreal Engine, Maya, Bifrost, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of scripting and coding languages (e.g. Python, VEX, HScript, MEL, C++) is an advantage.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.