Industrial Light & Magic hiring Creature TD, California

Festybay; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 85,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

Mentorship from seasoned veterans

Access to cutting-edge tools

Job summary

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in San Francisco is seeking a Junior Creature Technical Director for a project-based hire at their headquarters. This entry-level position requires a degree in Computer Graphics or a related field, along with skills in Autodesk Maya and SideFX Houdini. Responsibilities include supporting Senior Creature TDs, optimizing rigs, and assisting in simulations. The role offers a unique working environment with a focus on mentorship and innovation in creature technology, along with comprehensive employee benefits.

Qualifications

• A degree or certificate in Computer Graphics, Animation, Fine Arts, or Design preferred.
• Strong interest in anatomy and simulation is encouraged.
• Knowledge of Python, Mel, or VEX is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily assistance to Senior Creature TDs and Animators.
• Analyze and optimize existing rigs.
• Take ownership of 'non-hero' assets.
• Assist with CG cloth, hair, and muscle simulations.
• Act as a first responder for pipeline issues.
• Create and maintain clear documentation.

Skills

Creativity in character animation

Technical problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Fine Arts, or Design

Tools

Autodesk Maya

SideFX Houdini

Python

Job description

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm and a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is currently seeking a Junior Creature Technical Director (Junior Creature TD) for a project-based hire at our San Francisco headquarters. This is an entry‑level technical role designed for artists and engineers who possess a deep fascination with the mechanics of character movement, anatomy, and simulation.

As a Junior Creature Technical Director at the Presidio, you will be joining the studio that pioneered the digital character revolution. From the groundbreaking muscle systems of Jurassic Park to the intricate facial performances in The Avengers, ILM has always been at the forefront of creature technology. In this role, you will help maintain that legacy by supporting the pipeline that brings the world’s most complex digital beings to life.

Job Overview: Creature TD (Technical Director)

Category: Project Hire (Fixed Term)

Company Name: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Parent Organization: The Walt Disney Company

Job Type: Project Hire (Fixed Term)

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Primary Tools: Autodesk Maya, SideFX Houdini, Python

Experience Level: Entry Level / Junior

Compensation and Benefits

Annual Compensation Table (USD)

Position Level: Junior Creature TD

Salary Range (Annual): $67,000 – $85,600

Pay Frequency: Bi-Weekly / Salaried

Additional Benefits: Beyond the base salary, this project hire may be eligible for a bonus or long‑term incentive units. Full‑time project hires at ILM receive a comprehensive package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as financial and wellness benefits commensurate with the level of the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Show Support: Provide daily assistance to Senior Creature TDs and Animators. This includes troubleshooting rig performance issues and ensuring that assets are behaving as expected within the production environment.
• Rig Optimization: Analyze and optimize existing rigs and simulation setups to ensure they are efficient enough for the animation team to use without compromising on the quality of the final deformation.
• Asset Rigging: Take ownership of “non‑hero” assets—secondary characters, props, or background creatures—applying standard rigging templates and ensuring they meet show requirements.
• Simulation Management: Assist with entry‑level shot work involving CG cloth, hair, fur, and muscle simulations. You will help “prep” shots for larger simulation passes conducted by senior artists.
• Pipeline Troubleshooting: Act as a first responder for creature‑related pipeline issues. If an artist in another department (such as Layout or Lighting) encounters a bug with a character asset, you will help diagnose and resolve the issue.
• Documentation: Create and maintain clear, concise documentation for show‑specific tools and processes to ensure knowledge is shared across the global ILM network.

Educational Background

• A degree or certificate in Computer Graphics, Animation, Fine Arts, or Design is preferred. Candidates with degrees in Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering who have a strong interest in anatomy and simulation are also highly encouraged to apply.

Technical Skillset

• Software: Mastery of Maya or Houdini is required. You should be comfortable navigating complex node graphs and outliner hierarchies.
• Techniques: Proven ability in at least one core creature discipline: rigging, cloth simulation, hair/fur grooming, or muscle systems.
• Scripting: Knowledge of Python, Mel, or VEX is a significant advantage. The ability to automate repetitive rigging tasks is what defines a successful Junior Creature Technical Director.
• Operating Systems: Familiarity with Linux environments is standard for our studio pipeline.

The Portfolio (Reel)

Your application must include a demo reel. We are specifically looking for:

• Clear breakdowns of rigging logic (e.g., showing the joint structure vs. the skinning).
• Simulation tests (cloth, hair, or skin sliding) that show an understanding of physical weight and properties.
• A demonstration of “technical problem solving”—perhaps a tool you wrote to speed up a workflow.

Working at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco’s Presidio offers a unique environment. You will be surrounded by the history of cinema while working on its future.

• Mentorship: As a Junior Creature Technical Director, you are not expected to know everything on day one. You will be paired with seasoned veterans who have worked on some of the biggest films in history.
• Innovation: You will have access to Zeno, ILM’s proprietary software suite, and other cutting‑edge tools that define the state of the art in creature simulation.
• Culture: We champion a business environment where ideas from all people help us grow. We are an equal opportunity employer and value the unique perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our storytelling.