Lead Visual Effects Artist — Drive Stunning World-Building

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary plus bonuses

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 in George, Western Cape is seeking a Lead Visual Effects Artist to spearhead the VFX department. You will guide a team of artists, oversee the full VFX pipeline, and push technical boundaries to deliver breathtaking effects for high-profile projects.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of VFX experience with leadership roles, a strong Houdini/Maya/Nuke portfolio, and deep knowledge of compositing, modeling, lighting, and rendering.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in visual effects production, with at least 2 years in a lead role.
• Strong portfolio in Houdini, Maya, Nuke and compositing.
• Experience in 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering and animation for VFX.
• Knowledge of particle systems, simulations, and procedural generation.
• Expertise in Nuke and in at least one major 3D package (Maya/Houdini).
• Excellent cinematography, color theory and composition.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in George, within a fast-paced studio.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of VFX artists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Oversee the VFX pipeline from concept to final compositing, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
• Develop and implement innovative VFX techniques and workflows.
• Collaborate with directors and department leads to translate briefs into effects.
• Manage project scope, deadlines, and resource allocation for all VFX tasks.
• Conduct reviews and provide constructive feedback to artists.
• Stay current with emerging VFX tech, software, and best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical and artistic challenges during production.

Skills

VFX leadership

Team mentoring

Pipeline development

Cinematography understanding

Tools

Houdini

Maya

Nuke

Job description

Placements24 in George, Western Cape is seeking a Lead Visual Effects Artist to spearhead the VFX department. You will guide a team of artists, oversee the full VFX pipeline, and push technical boundaries to deliver breathtaking effects for high-profile projects.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of VFX experience with leadership roles, a strong Houdini/Maya/Nuke portfolio, and deep knowledge of compositing, modeling, lighting, and rendering.