Senior Houdini TD/Pipeline TD

Summary

Join Zoic Studios, an artist-owned VFX studio, as a Senior Houdini TD and contribute to high-end visual effects for film, television, and advertising. This role focuses on optimizing Houdini pipelines, creating tools, and troubleshooting technical issues. You will collaborate with various departments, ensuring efficient workflows and seamless integration of FX elements. The ideal candidate will reside in British Columbia, Canada, and possess extensive experience in Houdini, Python, and pipeline development. This is a remote position offering a competitive salary and the opportunity to work on challenging projects within a creative and supportive environment. The position is currently an expression of interest, with the possibility of opening in the future.

Requirements

• 4+ years of work experience as a FX or Houdini TD or in a position with similar responsibilities
• Proficiency in Python
• Proficiency with Houdini
• Experience debugging other users’ scene files and renders
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to troubleshoot and work independently on projects without supervision
• Experience with user interface development
• Solid understanding of Object-Oriented Programming and Design
• Experience with Version Control Systems
• Able to communicate clearly with the various Zoic departments and locations

Responsibilities

• Work with and take direction from Studio Technical Supervisor, Department Supervisors, Pipeline Managers, and Senior TDs as well as working with artists to create support & maintain tools to be integrated into Zoic’s existing pipeline
• Utilize Python and PySide for tool creation and support
• Work with artists to troubleshoot and fix problems
• Update and maintain tools, techniques and work flows as required
• Develop digital assets (HDAs) per department needs
• Discuss and design solutions shots and sequences which fit within tight computation/storage/time limitations while still achieving the desired creative goals of VFX Supervisors and Creative Directors
• If needed research and optimize artists’ scenes from Houdini and Mantra to simulate and render successfully within allotted time frame and machine resources, such as such as storage, RAM, and clock speed, to maximize efficiency on the farm
• Debug and repair problematic scenes from Houdini and Mantra/Vray related to effects, simulation, procedural modeling, lighting, rendering, and other disciplines
• Provide troubleshooting and technical solutions for day-to-day Houdini production problems
• Work closely with Lighters and Compositors to ensure that all generated FX elements integrate seamlessly in downstream departments
• Utilize currently available proprietary tools to solve FX and pipeline issues and on occasion develop new small-scale tools to address project or FX/Houdini department issues
• Collaborate with Pipeline department on any required large-scale tools development
• Stay up-to-date on latest proprietary pipeline tools and workflows from all office locations and regularly share information on these new developments with FX artists

Preferred Qualifications

• Past pipeline development experience a plus
• Some experience with Qt. Other UI framework experience a plus
• Knowledge of Python scripting in Houdini, Nuke, and Maya
• C/C++, C#, web development, SQL experience a plus
• Past experience with Shotgun, RV, Cinema4D a plus
• Linux experience a plus. Bash, file IO, process lifecycle
• Some experience using Maya, V-Ray, Nuke, Bifrost, Yeti, or Substance Painter a plus
• Some experience using render queuing software a plus
• Basic Python, VEX, HScript, and HDA scripting a plus

Benefits

• This is a remote (work from home) position
• Pay Range: $50 - $65 (The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position)