Lead VFX Artist: Visionary Team Leader for Immersive Effects

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, seeks a Lead VFX Artist to head the visual effects team. You will conceptualize, design, and implement spectacular VFX that elevate our productions, while guiding artists to uphold artistic integrity and technical excellence.

Collaborating with directors and art leads, you will shape the VFX pipeline, troubleshoot complex challenges, mentor a multidisciplinary team, and deliver high-quality visuals on tight schedules using Houdini, Maya, Nuke, and game

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in visual effects artistry, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing diverse high-quality VFX work across various media.
• Expertise in industry-standard VFX software such as Houdini, Maya, Nuke, After Effects and relevant particle/simulation systems.
• Proven experience in particle systems, simulations (fire, smoke, water, etc.), and compositing.
• Strong understanding of lighting, color theory, and cinematography as they relate to VFX.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet demanding deadlines.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their VFX capabilities is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, fostering a creative and collaborative environment.
• Oversee the design and implementation of all visual effects, ensuring they align with the project's artistic vision and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain the VFX pipeline, identifying and implementing improvements for efficiency and quality.
• Collaborate closely with directors, art directors, and other department leads to integrate VFX seamlessly into the production.
• Create and manage benchmarks for visual quality and technical performance.
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to team members.
• Stay current with cutting-edge VFX technologies and techniques, and explore their application in our projects.
• Troubleshoot complex technical challenges related to VFX production.
• Manage project timelines and resource allocation for the VFX team.
• Contribute creative ideas for visual effects that enhance storytelling and audience engagement.

Skills

VFX Leadership

Portfolio required

Houdini

Maya

Nuke

After Effects

Lighting & color theory

Cinematography

Team management

Unreal Engine/Unity experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or related field

Tools

Houdini

Maya

Nuke

After Effects

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, seeks a Lead VFX Artist to head the visual effects team. You will conceptualize, design, and implement spectacular VFX that elevate our productions, while guiding artists to uphold artistic integrity and technical excellence.

Collaborating with directors and art leads, you will shape the VFX pipeline, troubleshoot complex challenges, mentor a multidisciplinary team, and deliver high-quality visuals on tight schedules using Houdini, Maya, Nuke, and game