Junior Crowd Technical Director (VFX)

TL;DR

Junior Crowd Technical Director (VFX): Supporting the creative and technical development of crowd simulations for feature film productions with an accent on population workflows and shot-specific technical troubleshooting. Focus on choreographing complex motion cycles using Houdini and maintaining pipeline efficiency for large-scale environments.

Location: Must be based in San Francisco, California

Salary: $67,900 – $86,900 per year

Company

A world-leading visual effects facility founded by George Lucas, renowned for creating industry-standard effects for major feature films.

What you will do

• Choreograph crowd behavior and motion to meet show-specific artistic direction.
• Manage motion and animation cycles, including the creation of blending cycles.
• Develop and modify efficient workflows and tools within Houdini.
• Troubleshoot technical pipeline issues and assist the wider crowd team.
• Present work in dailies to receive and incorporate supervisor feedback.
• Collaborate across disciplines to ensure high-quality, deadline-driven delivery.

Requirements

• At least 2-3 years of relevant professional VFX experience.
• Strong proficiency with Houdini software and workflows.
• Strong proficiency with Linux.
• Understanding of cinematic principles, composition, and motion capture integration.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict production deadlines.

Nice to have

• Scripting proficiency in VEX and/or Python.
• Deep understanding of Houdini input/output pipelines.
• Experience with cloth and hair simulation.
• Working knowledge of Maya and rigging techniques.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, financial, and insurance benefit packages.
• Exposure to world-class visual effects projects and production environments.
• Commitment to an inclusive work environment with diverse talent.
• Opportunities for professional development within a major global media enterprise.