Technical Director - Animation & VFX

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,959,000 - 2,938,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a senior Technical Director specializing in Animation and Visual Effects for a fully remote role. You will bridge artistic vision and technical feasibility, developing robust workflows and tackling complex production challenges to deliver cutting-edge visuals.

You will build tools for Maya/Houdini/Blender, script in Python or MEL, and manage ShotGrid pipelines while collaborating with creative leads to meet ambitious project goals.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Technical Director or senior technical lead in animation/VFX.
• Scripting in Python or MEL for pipeline tools and workflows.
• Strong knowledge of Maya, Houdini, Blender and rendering engines.
• Experience with production management software such as ShotGrid.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize animation and VFX pipelines for efficiency and scalability.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and plugins to support artists and streamline production.
• Troubleshoot software/hardware and render farm issues, ensuring stability.
• Collaborate with creative leads to translate project needs into technical solutions.
• Implement and maintain rendering strategies to maximize resource use and delivery speed.

Skills

TD experience

Scripting: Python/MEL

3D pipelines: Maya/Houdini/Blender

Render engines: Arnold/Redshift/V-Ray

ShotGrid proficiency

Tools

ShotGrid

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an accomplished Technical Director specializing in Animation and Visual Effects to join their innovative, fully remote team. This senior role is pivotal in bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical feasibility, ensuring seamless execution of complex animation and VFX pipelines. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining robust technical workflows, solving intricate production challenges, and collaborating closely with creative teams to achieve groundbreaking visual results. This is a unique opportunity to leverage your technical expertise and passion for film to contribute to world-class projects from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize animation and VFX pipelines, ensuring efficiency, stability, and scalability.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and plugins to support artists and streamline production processes.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to software, hardware, and render farm management.
• Collaborate with creative leads to understand project requirements and provide technical solutions.
• Implement and maintain rendering solutions, ensuring efficient use of resources and timely delivery.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies in animation, VFX, and real-time rendering, evaluating their potential adoption.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as a Technical Director or in a senior technical role within the animation or VFX industry.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python , MEL, or similar.
• Strong understanding of 3D software pipelines (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender) and rendering engines (e.g., Arnold, Redshift, V-Ray).
• Experience with ShotGrid or other production management software.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to technical challenges.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Fully remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous budget for professional development, training, and equipment.
• Opportunity to contribute to industry-leading projects and shape the future of digital media.