Effects TD (Project Hire) – ILM, California

Festybay; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,400 - 118,700; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

Performance incentives

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

A leading visual effects company based in San Francisco is seeking an Effects Technical Director (TD) to join their innovative team. In this role, you will design and create complex FX animations, manage heavy particle effects, and ensure seamless integration with live-action footage. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering, proficiency in Houdini, and strong scripting skills. Benefits include competitive pay, performance incentives, and a full range of health benefits.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Houdini is highly preferred.
• Excellent pipeline scripting ability in Python; Linux experience is prioritized.
• Artistic versatility with ability to animate moderate objects.

Responsibilities

• Design and create complex FX animation and simulations.
• Set up and optimize particle effects for renderability.
• Write procedural surface and volumetric shaders.
• Ensure FX elements integrate with live-action plates using Nuke.
• Build and optimize the workflow pipeline with scripting.

Skills

Houdini proficiency

Pipeline scripting

Linux experience

Python programming

C++ familiarity

Artistic eye for animation

Education

Bachelor’s in CS, Engineering, or Computer Graphics

Tools

Maya

3DS Max

Nuke

Job description

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the world’s premier visual effects house, is currently seeking a highly skilled and innovative Effects TD to join our San Francisco studio. As a Project Hire, the successful Effects TD will step into an environment that has defined the vanguard of cinematic history for half a century. From the birth of the digital revolution to the latest breakthroughs in immersive storytelling, ILM remains the gold standard for visual effects, and our Effects TD team is the engine that drives that innovation.

This role is not merely about executing tasks; it is about embodying the collaborative mindset and passion for filmmaking that has earned Industrial Light & Magic 15 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. We are looking for an Effects Technical Director who can bridge the gap between complex mathematical simulations and breathtaking artistry.

Job Overview: Effects TD

• Primary Job Title: Effects TD (Technical Director)
• Company Name: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
• Parent Company: The Walt Disney Company / Lucasfilm Ltd.
• Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
• Employment Type: Project-Based / Contract
• Hiring Range: $90,400 – $118,700 per year
• Education Requirement: Bachelor’s in CS, Engineering, or Computer Graphics

The Effects Technical Director at Industrial Light & Magic is a specialized technical artist responsible for generating the dynamic elements of a film that cannot be captured in-camera. Whether it is a massive tidal wave, a crumbling skyscraper, or the subtle wisp of smoke from a lightsaber impact, the Effects TD uses a combination of off-the-shelf software and proprietary tools to solve unique visual challenges.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and Implementation: Design and create complex FX animation, including procedural simulations, dynamic simulations, and intricate particle and fluid systems.
• Scale Management: Set up and wrangle heavy particle effects and enormous crowd shots that require high-level optimization to remain renderable.
• Rendering and Shading: Write and “hack” procedural surface and volumetric shaders to achieve the desired physical look.
• Compositing Integration: Own work through moderate-level compositing, ensuring FX elements integrate perfectly with live-action plates using Nuke.
• Pipeline Evolution: Build the pipeline: write plug-ins, debug simulations, and script tools in Python or MEL to improve workflow efficiency for the entire team.

Technical Requirements

• Advanced Simulation Expertise: Proficiency in Houdini is highly preferred; also able to translate skills across Maya, 3DS Max, or other industry-standard simulation software.
• Scripting and Programming: Excellent pipeline scripting ability; prioritizing Linux experience and proficiency in Python. Familiarity with C++ for writing expressions and custom tools is a significant advantage.
• Artistic Versatility: Ability to animate moderate objects with proficiency and possess an excellent aesthetic eye for timing, weight, and composition.

Professional Soft Skills

• Communication: Stand up in dailies and clearly, briefly outline accomplishments and remaining technical hurdles.
• Ego‑Free Collaboration: Receive direction and criticism with a positive attitude, understanding that every iteration brings the shot closer to the Director’s vision.
• Time Management: Prioritize tasks and manage time to meet strict production milestones without sacrificing quality.

Benefits and Compensation

• Base Pay: $90,400 – $118,700 per year (baseline; final offer reflects experience, location, and equity).
• Performance Incentives: Bonuses and long‑term incentive units depending on level and contract duration.
• Health and Wellness: Full range of medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Professional Growth: Opportunity to work alongside industry legends and gain experience on high‑profile film franchises.

Application Requirements

1. Current Resume: Highlighting relevant feature film experience.
2. Demo Reel: Mandatory. Demonstrate advanced simulation work, a strong aesthetic eye, and clear documentation of specific contributions to each shot.

Lucasfilm Ent Co Ltd (and Industrial Light & Magic) is an equal‑opportunity employer. We believe the best stories come from a diverse set of voices. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability.