Senior Creature Technical Director - Expression of Interest at Disney

This posting is an opportunity to submit your resume for future consideration; this is not a role that is open at this time. We anticipate this role may be open in the future, but we are not actively hiring for the position. If you would like to be considered for this potential role, please submit your resume. If the role becomes available, you may receive an email or call from a recruiter.

Position Summary

We are looking for a Senior Creature Technical Director who reflects the innovative spirit, creative talent, production excellence, collaborative mindset, and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM.

The Senior Creature Technical Director is responsible for rigging and skinning hero to background creatures, vehicles, and props in Maya as well as setting up and running muscle, hair, rigid, and cloth simulations. The Senior Creature Technical Director is able to wrangle rigging and creature pipeline issues proficiently under the direction and support of their supervisors.

What You’ll Do

• Advanced Hero-creature rigging and skinning in Maya
• Set up and run cloth, hair, rigid body, muscle simulations
• Troubleshoot creature rigging and pipeline issues for artists in other disciplines
• Mentor entry level artists
• Script utilities/tools/plug-ins in Maya
• Sufficient knowledge of Maya rigging techniques to optimize the performance of rigs
• Participate in reviews, dailies, and department meetings as required
• Special projects as necessary

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years relevant professional experience and at least college level diploma in computer graphics, fine arts, design, or photography, or related field; OR, at least 7 years relevant professional VFX experience in lieu of education
• Experience with advanced hero asset rigging and skinning in Maya
• Experience setting up and running simulation shotwork
• Experience in corrective sculpting; knowledge of anatomy and skinning
• Positive attitude and team player
• Passion for the work
• Good communication skills
• Proficiency with Linux
• Expertise with Maya
• Knowledge of creature simulation in Houdini
• Experience with python scripting
• Nice to have:
  • Experience with Massive or Houdini crowd software
  • C++
  • Basic proficiency in another discipline - modeling, texture, TD, animation
  • Experience with crowd simulations

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco, CA is $113,300 to $148,700 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.