VFX Director - Infinity Ward

Activision; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with Company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Mental health and fitness programs

Job summary

A leading gaming company is searching for a VFX Director to join their dynamic team in Los Angeles. This role demands over 12 years of experience in creating real-time and pre-rendered cinematics, along with a deep understanding of Call of Duty lore. Key responsibilities include directing the visual effects for in-game cinematics and ensuring innovative VFX integration. The position offers comprehensive benefits, emphasizing well-being and work-life balance, with a full on-site commitment.

Qualifications

• 12+ years’ experience creating real-time and pre-rendered cinematics.
• Intimate knowledge of Call of Duty lore and history.
• Expert knowledge of real-time VFX workflows.

Responsibilities

• Define the visual effects style and quality bar for in-game cinematics.
• Collaborate with teams to stabilize production schedules.
• Oversee the creation and integration of VFX in real-time engines.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Real-time VFX workflows and tools

Knowledge of Call of Duty

Tools

Unreal Engine

Houdini

Maya

Job description

Job Title

VFX Director - Infinity Ward

Requisition ID

R027119

Job Description

Founded in 2002, Infinity Ward is the original studio behind the Call of Duty® franchise. The titles developed by Infinity Ward have won more than 200 “Game of the Year” awards and 100 “Editor's Choice” awards, among many other industry accolades. Some of our previous titles include: Call of Duty®: Ghosts, Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare and most recently, Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare. Infinity Ward employs more than 250 people in Woodland Hills, Calif., just outside of Los Angeles.

A critically acclaimed studio, Infinity Ward is proud to have one of the hardest‑working and versatile development teams in the industry. We love to have as much fun as the games we create, and it shows in our relaxed, yet diligent, workplace environment. We believe that making the best games relies on having the best people, so we like to look after ours. We enjoy having fun with top‑note events that everyone gets involved with.

Infinity Ward is wholly owned by Activision. To learn more about our studio, visit https://www.infinityward.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InfinityWard/, and @InfinityWard on X.

Our team is currently looking for a talented Director, VFX Supervisor. This role is based in our Woodland Hills office and follows an onsite work schedule of five days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the project director, production staff, and department leads to help achieve the creative vision of the project while staying within the technical, resource, and budget limitations.
• Be aware of, and communicate to leadership and game team leadership any blocking issues or potential technical problems before they negatively affect production schedules.
• Be an envoy for any technology transfer requested by the game teams.
• Define the visual effects style and quality bar for in‑game cinematics and narrative sequences.
• Partner with the Cinematics Director, Art Director, and Narrative team to ensure all VFX align with IW’s artistic vision and emotional tone.
• Work within the established art styles of our wide‑ranging IPs.
• Lead creative reviews and provide actionable feedback to internal and external artists to maintain consistency.
• Drive innovation in real‑time effects, blending traditional cinematic techniques with the latest engine technology.
• Oversee the creation and integration of VFX in real‑time engines (Unreal Engine, proprietary tools, etc.).
• Collaborate with engineering and tools teams to develop efficient, scalable VFX pipelines for both pre‑rendered and in‑engine cinematics.
• Partner with gameplay design, animation, and level design teams to ensure that cinematic effects integrate seamlessly with real‑time gameplay experiences.
• Partner with production to scope workloads, maintain schedules, and manage milestones.

Minimum Requirements

• 12+ years’ experience creating real‑time and pre‑rendered cinematics.

Knowledge & Skills

• An intimate knowledge of Call of Duty, their associated lore, characters, and history.
• An intimate working knowledge of the Pre‑Render and In‑Game Cinematics core pipeline.
• A basic understanding of IW’s proprietary engine.
• Ability to adapt to various art styles.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Strong knowledge of multiple scripting languages, development practices, and asset deliverable pipeline architecture.
• Expert knowledge of real‑time VFX workflows and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine Niagara, Houdini, Maya, EmberGen, or proprietary tech).

Extra Points

• Familiarity with game engine optimization, scripting (Python, MEL, Blueprint), and VFX pipeline automation.
• Experience working on AAA game franchises or high‑end cinematics.
• Familiarity with Call of Duty and their visual tone.

Application Materials

• Demo Reel/Portfolio of work in digital format (website, blog, online album, Dropbox, etc.). Physical media will not be accepted.
• Resume.
• Cover letter (optional).

Benefits

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well‑being for ‘Every World’ – we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance.
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching.
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave.
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others.
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.