Lead Visual Effects (VFX) Artist

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote environment

Leadership role

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Lead Visual Effects (VFX) Artist for a fully remote role within South Africa, with a preference for candidates near Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. You will lead a team to create stunning VFX for film, TV, and interactive media, guiding pipelines and ensuring artistic integrity.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in VFX, a strong portfolio, and proven leadership. You will collaborate with directors and producers in a remote-first environment, driving high-quality results

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of visual effects experience for film, TV, or games and a leadership track record.
• Proficient in Maya, Houdini, Nuke, After Effects, and Substance Painter.
• Strong portfolio showing diverse, high-quality VFX work and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, providing creative direction and technical guidance.
• Conceptualize, design, and execute high-quality VFX sequences for various projects.
• Develop efficient VFX workflows and pipelines and maintain asset quality.
• Collaborate with directors, producers, and leads to meet project goals.
• Manage timelines and deliverables, ensuring timely completion of tasks.
• Stay updated with latest VFX software, hardware, and techniques.

Skills

Leadership

VFX pipelines

Maya

Houdini

Nuke

After Effects

Substance Painter

Team mentoring

Portfolio

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation/CG

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Nuke

After Effects

Substance Painter

Job description

About the Role Our client, a pioneering force in the digital content creation space, is actively seeking a highly skilled and imaginative Lead Visual Effects (VFX) Artist to join their innovative team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute your creative expertise from anywhere in South Africa, with a strong preference for candidates familiar with the creative hubs around Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. As the Lead VFX Artist, you will spearhead the creation of stunning visual effects for a variety of projects, including film, television, and interactive media. You will guide a team of talented artists, ensuring the highest standards of quality and artistic integrity are met. The ideal candidate possesses a deep technical understanding of VFX pipelines, exceptional artistic vision, and proven leadership capabilities. Embrace this opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects, collaborate with a passionate team, and shape the future of visual storytelling in a remote-first environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, providing creative direction and technical guidance.
• Conceptualize, design, and execute high-quality visual effects sequences.
• Develop and implement efficient VFX workflows and pipelines.
• Collaborate closely with directors, producers, and other creative leads to achieve project objectives.
• Ensure the artistic and technical quality of all VFX assets and shots.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables, ensuring timely completion of VFX tasks.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in VFX software, hardware, and techniques.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges and provide solutions for complex VFX problems.
• Conduct visual research and create concept art or storyboards for VFX sequences.
• Maintain strong communication and collaboration within the remote team and with external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in visual effects for film, television, or games.
• Demonstrated experience as a Lead VFX Artist or in a senior VFX role with supervisory responsibilities.
• Proficiency in industry-standard VFX software such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, After Effects, and Substance Painter.
• Strong understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, compositing, and simulation techniques.
• Excellent artistic eye for composition, color, movement, and detail.
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, essential for a remote role.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of high-quality VFX work.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and leadership role.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Opportunity to lead innovative VFX projects for a leading digital content creator.
• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities.Collaborative and forward-thinking virtual work culture.
• Contribute to visually stunning productions from your home office.