Render Technical Director

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Logo of LAIKA Studios

LAIKA Studios

πŸ“Remote - United States

Job highlights

Summary

Join our team as a Render Technical Director (TD) and provide technical support to the Lighting department. You will collaborate with other TDs to design, develop, and maintain digital pipeline tools for lighting. Responsibilities include extending Katana's capabilities, diagnosing and resolving technical issues, integrating products into our asset management system, and refining USD-based pipeline tools. You will also identify areas for innovation and provide technical guidance. This role requires extensive experience in high-end photoreal VFX lighting and expertise in coding with Python and Lua. The position is located on-site in Hillsboro, OR, with remote work eligibility.

Requirements

  • 5+ years’ experience lighting high-end photo real VFX for feature films or television
  • Strong knowledge of lighting principles, tools and workflows
  • Experience working with Katana, its various APIs, and Plug-in System
  • Expertise in coding with Python and Lua, including familiarity with best practices, as well as the Python core library and common external libraries
  • Working knowledge of Nuke and compositing principles
  • Understanding of applicable software and platforms including Maya, Houdini and Renderman
  • Experience with advanced techniques such as Global Illumination, HDRI, subsurface scattering and real-world lighting set ups

Responsibilities

  • Work with fellow Pipeline Technical Directors (TDs) to design, develop and maintain digital pipeline tools that pertain to lighting, including shots and CG assets as well as procedural systems for complex, photorealistic lighting setups
  • Extend the capabilities of Katana through custom scripts and plugins, addressing the needs of Lighting and Look Development Artists
  • Diagnose and resolve technical and creative lighting issues encountered by artists
  • Collaborate with the Technology Team to integrate Lighting and Look Dev products into our Asset Management system for the core Lighting and Look Dev DCCs, including Katana, Mari, and Substance Painter
  • Collaborate with Technical and Creative leadership to refine, support and extend USD based pipeline tools and techniques in accordance with evolving industry standards
  • Identify areas of industry innovation and help to develop and maintain custom tools, templates, scripts, workflows, and documentation for the lighting team; identify productivity improvements in collaboration with artists across disciplines
  • Provide technical guidance for quality control of other artists’ work, as needed
  • Support relevant supervisors and leads, working with Show and Facility Technology to design, develop and deliver visually creative and technically sound solutions that address the needs of shots and sequences
  • Assist with the support of existing tools via bug fixes and version updates

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Mari and/or Substance Painter, a plus
  • Experience with Universal Scene Description (USD) APIs and usage, a plus

Benefits

  • On-site in Hillsboro, OR / and also eligible for remote work
  • Salary is commensurate with skills and experience
This job is filled or no longer available