Junior Generalist – ILM, California 2026

Festybay; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 67,900 - 86,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) options

Employee discounts and professional development opportunities

Job summary

A subsidiary of a major entertainment company in San Francisco is seeking a Junior Generalist to join their team. This position is ideal for emerging artists with a strong foundation in digital or traditional arts, actively contributing to high-profile visual effects projects. Responsibilities include handling lighting tasks, asset modifications, and participating in dailies. Candidates should have a relevant degree and familiarity with critical CG techniques and tools like Photoshop and Houdini. The role includes comprehensive benefits and incentives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience demonstrating proficiency.
• Proven ability in CG techniques such as modeling, shading, and compositing.
• Strong eye for real-world lighting, physics, and textures.

Responsibilities

• Perform lighting tasks to integrate shots seamlessly with live-action footage.
• Execute basic model and texture tweaks for shots.
• Render environment maps and organize HDRI maps for the lighting team.

Skills

Modeling and Texturing

Shading and Lighting

Look Development

Matte Painting and Compositing

Familiarity with AI-assisted workflows

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Design, or Photography

Tools

Photoshop

Maya

3ds Max

Houdini

Unreal Engine

Job description

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company, is currently seeking a Junior Generalist to join our world‑class team in San Francisco. This role is designed for emerging artists who possess a strong foundation in digital or traditional arts and are eager to contribute to the visual effects (VFX) industry’s most prestigious projects.

As a Junior Generalist, you will be part of a legacy that began in 1975 under George Lucas. You will work alongside the industry’s most talented supervisors and artists to create photo‑realistic environments and elements that define modern cinema.

Executive Summary of Opportunity

• Company Name Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) / Lucasfilm Entertainment Co. Ltd.
• Parent Organization The Walt Disney Company
• Position Title Junior Generalist
• Job Type Full‑Time
• Work Location San Francisco, California, United States
• Hiring Salary Range $67,900 – $86,900 per annum
• Industry Motion Pictures, Animation, & Visual Effects
• Core Software Photoshop, Maya, 3ds Max, Houdini, Unreal Engine

The compensation package for this role is designed to be competitive within the San Francisco Bay Area market, reflecting the high cost of living and the specialized skills required for the VFX industry.

• Base Salary $67,900 to $86,900 (based on experience and internal equity).
• Incentives Potential for bonuses and/or long‑term incentive units (dependent on level).
• Medical Benefits Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Financial Benefits 401(k) options and financial planning assistance.
• Additional Perks Access to Disney‑specific benefits, employee discounts, and professional development.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lighting and Rendering: Performing simple sequence‑based lighting tasks to ensure shots integrate seamlessly with live‑action footage.
• Asset Modification: Executing basic model and texture tweaks to meet the specific needs of a shot or sequence.
• Environment Mapping: Rendering environment maps and 360‑degree spheres, as well as stitching and organizing HDRI maps for use by the wider lighting team.
• Efficient Rendering: Tuning renders to ensure shot efficiency, minimizing “render farm” overhead while maintaining high visual quality.

Collaborative Workflow and Communication

• Partner with Leadership: Work directly with Generalist Supervisors and VFX Supervisors to understand the creative vision.
• Dailies Participation: Attend daily review sessions (dailies) to present your work, receive feedback, and learn from the critique of senior artists.
• Status Reporting: Provide clear and concise updates to the Production team regarding the status of assigned shots.

Technical Operations and Documentation

• Outsource Quality Control: Check files and scenes delivered by third‑party vendors to ensure they meet ILM’s strict consistency and technical standards.
• Workflow Documentation: Write and maintain clear documentation of new processes and workflows to help build the department’s internal knowledge base.
• Software Testing: Collaborate with Tech Leads to test new software builds and tools, ensuring they are production‑ready.
• Library Management: Update and organize Generalist‑specific asset libraries to ensure the team can work quickly and effectively.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Design, or Photography, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating a high level of proficiency.
• Proven ability in at least one (and ideally more) of the following CG techniques:
  • Modeling and Texturing – creating 3D assets with realistic surface details.
  • Shading and Lighting – understanding how light interacts with materials in a physical space.
  • Look Development – defining the visual aesthetic of a 3D asset.
  • Matte Painting and Compositing – blending 2D and 3D elements to create seamless final images.

Software Toolkit

• Foundational Tools: Adobe Photoshop (for textures and matte painting).
• Procedural Tools: SideFX Houdini.
• Rendering Engines: Experience with ray‑trace renderers such as Arnold, V‑Ray, or Renderman.
• 2D Compositing: Nuke or similar compositing tools.

Preferred "Nice‑to‑Have" Skills

• Emerging AI Tools: Familiarity with AI‑assisted workflows and their application in VFX.
• Real‑Time Engines: Experience with Unreal Engine 5 for real‑time environment creation or virtual production.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company are Equal Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to:

• Race, color, religion, or ethnic origin.
• Age, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
• National origin or ancestry.
• Disability, pregnancy, or maternity status.
• Veteran or military status.

Application Process

1. Photo‑realism: A strong eye for real‑world lighting, physics, and textures.
2. Environment Focus: Landscape work, whether digital or traditional.
3. Technical Range: Evidence of working through multiple stages of the CG pipeline.