Vancouver

We are looking for a Clarisse developer, to develop and support tools for our Generalist artists, who model, paint, and render complex environments and digital sets.
We’re looking for an engineer with Clarisse experience, and more generally with experience in 3D scene assembly and asset management, with a good knowledge of data formats such as Alembic, FBX, and USD, and a keen ability to design and support artist-friendly end-to-end workflows for asset browsing, import, and data interchange.

What You’ll Do:

•Develop tools and workflows for scene assembly, texture and lookdev, and shading and rendering, primarily in Clarisse; help manage ILM’s Clarisse installation; help integrate new Clarisse releases.
•Design, maintain, and support artist-friendly workflows, tools, and data templates for authoring, publishing, and managing 3D and 2D data.
•Work directly with Generalist Supervisors and artists in ILM’s studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London, and Singapore.
•Work in a collaborative, distributed team of software engineers.
•Split time between software tool development and day-to-day production support.

Requirements

Education / Experience:

•BS or advanced degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience.
•3+ years of experience in professional software development and/or VFX production.

Personal Skills:

•An intuitive understanding of the demands of a fast-paced, creatively-driven visual effects production environment.

Collaboration: a readiness to trust others, be trustworthy, and play nice.
Communication: an ability to express yourself concisely, a willingness to speak up, and a conviction to keep everyone informed of progress and issues.
Empathy: an ability to listen intently and understand artists’ needs.
Creativity: an insightful and analytical thinker, and a creative problem solver.

Technical Skills:

•Extensive experience with Clarisse.
•Expert knowledge of programming in Python and/or C++ on Linux.
•Experience with a variety of commercial animation and VFX software applications: Maya, Nuke, Renderman, VRay, Arnold, RV, Shotgun, etc.
•Experience designing interfaces with GUI toolkits: Qt, PyQt/PySide, etc.
•Thorough knowledge of software design/development principles: design patterns, object-oriented design, agile development, etc. Experience working with a large, complex, mature, and dynamic code base.

We are looking for engineers for our rendering and shading R&D team, to help advance rendering technology for photorealistic motion picture visual effects production.

ILM works closely with our sister company, Pixar, to advance the state of Renderman and integrate it thoroughly into our production pipeline and achieve the highest level of visual complexity and fidelity. We also use many other commercial renderers, as well custom, special-purpose proprietary tools. The R&D team is responsible for the shaders and the underlying shading technology that ILM artists use to produce a wide range of photorealistic imagery: digital humans; hairy, slimy creatures; massive environments and space ships; dust, smoke, fire, water, and natural phenomena of all sorts.  We need engineers with a sound theoretical understanding of path tracing, light transport, sampling, volumetrics, physically-based material modeling, and geometric processing.

Who We Are:

Industrial Light & Magic, founded in 1975 by George Lucas, has created some of the most iconic moments in motion picture history. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, The Avengers, theme park rides and interactive experiences, ILM continues to expand the possibilities of what visual entertainment can be.

ILM’s R&D and Core Pipeline groups develop the ground-breaking technology that our artists use to create dazzling visuals.  ILM’s innovations have won 29 Scientific and Technical Academy Awards^®. Today, we are 70+ visually-minded software engineers, working side-by-side with over a thousand digital artists in a fast-paced, intensely collaborative, creatively-driven film production environment, across studios in San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver, and London.

What You’ll Do:

• Work in a collaborative, distributed team of full-time software engineers and shading experts in researching, developing, and supporting ILM’s shader set; develop both general and special-purpose rendering algorithms and data representations that scale to high-volume photorealistic visual effects production.
• Work directly with highly specialized and talented artists in active film production, in ILM’s studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London, and Singapore. Work with Lighting TDs, show supervisors, and engineering teams to balance long-term development projects with day-to-day production support.
• Analyze and optimize renderer performance in active production. Act as a trusted consultant to creative leadership on rendering approach and strategy.
• Collaborate closely with the Renderman team at Pixar, with Pixar’s production shading/rendering teams, with other Disney divisions, and with software vendors and industry groups.

Education / Experience:

• BS or advanced degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in professional software development and/or VFX production.

Personal Skills:

• An intuitive understanding of the demands of a fast-paced, creatively-driven visual effects production environment.
• Collaboration: a readiness to trust others, be trustworthy, and play nice.
• Communication: an ability to express yourself concisely, a willingness to speak up, and a conviction to keep everyone informed of progress and issues.
• Empathy: an ability to listen intently and understand artists’ needs.
• Creativity: an insightful and analytical thinker, and a creative problem solver.

Technical Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of principles of computer graphics rendering and shading: path tracing, light transport, sampling, high-dynamic-range imagery, color science, subdivision surface geometry, proceduralism and instancing, deformation and caching.
• Experience with Renderman RIS and/or similar physically-based renderers, such as Arnold, Mantra, Clarisse, Vray, etc.
• Experience with Katana or similar computer graphics lighting applications; knowledge of other systems a plus: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, etc.
• Experience working with a large, complex, mature, and dynamic code base.
• Fluent in C++, with experience in Python on Linux.

We are looking for a Technology Project Manager to support our Technology teams in our Vancouver studio and to manage Global technology projects across our four studios.

We need people who have:

• A passion for VFX Technology
• A strong desire to lend order to chaos
• A knack for simplifying complex processes

Who We Are:

Industrial Light & Magic, founded in 1975 by George Lucas, has created some of the most iconic moments in motion picture history. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, The Avengers, theme park rides and interactive experiences, ILM continues to expand the possibilities of what visual entertainment can be.

ILM’s Technology teams develop the ground-breaking technology that our artists use to create dazzling visuals. ILM’s innovations have won 29 Scientific and Technical Academy Awards®. Today, we are 70+ visually-minded software engineers, working side-by-side with over a thousand digital artists in a fast-paced, intensely collaborative, creatively-driven film production environment, across studios in San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver, and London.

With over 40 years of experience, ILM is the best in the business, but we’re never content with the status quo. With a full slate of upcoming movies, we have the ambition to improve everything we do:

• Develop ever more powerful tools and production techniques that push the bounds of visual complexity and cinematic fidelity, and continue to create images no one has seen before.
• Improve our most powerful artist tools so they’re easier to learn and easier to use.
• Modernize our core infrastructure, and increase the throughput of our global compute and storage processes.

What You’ll Do:

• Assist in the process of gathering and prioritizing project requirements in collaboration with leadership and team members
• Partner with Technology and Production leadership to set project direction and translate production strategy into a development plan
• Define, develop, manage and document project schedule/milestones, proactively drive project-related issues to appropriate resolution, and plan for contingencies due to production-related risks
• Provide escalation management, anticipate and make tradeoffs, and balance goals against technical constraints to negotiate release schedules
• Develop strong cross-functional relationships which enable the group to look forward and plan interdepartmental tasks without friction
• Manage stakeholder expectations throughout the development cycle
• Coordinate project progress through effective meetings, use of Jira and coordination with technology leadership

Requirements

Education / Experience:

• You have 3-5 years project management experience in VFX production, gaming or software development
• You have practiced knowledge of project management methodologies, ideally including SCRUM and Kanban
• You have exceptional verbal and written communication skills and can get ideas across in a clear and concise manner

Personal Skills:

• Intuition: An intuitive understanding of the demands of a fast-paced, creatively-driven visual effects production environment.
• Collaboration: a readiness to trust others, be trustworthy, and play nice.
• Communication: an ability to express yourself concisely, a willingness to speak up, and a conviction to keep everyone informed of progress and issues.
• Empathy: an ability to listen intently and understand engineer and artist needs.
• Creativity: an insightful and analytical thinker, and a creative problem solver.

The Animator creates high quality motion of computer graphics creatures and objects within a shot, using a variety of animation software programs, and working under the general supervision of Senior Level and Animation Supervisors.

• Responsible for the successful animation of a series of shots on a specific project.
• Participates as a team member in determining various aesthetic solutions; provides feedback to other members of the production by attending dailies on a regular basis.
• Maintains or exceeds a consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work.
• Expected to mentor entry level Animators and must be able to assist them with their shots.
• Performs other tasks related to the creation of computer-generated animation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Traditional Animation and 3 years experience, or at least 5 years of experience working in cel, stopmotion or computer animation.
• 2+ years as an entry level Animator in conjunction with recommendations for advancement by the Animation Supervisors and Department Manager.
• Expert knowledge of traditional animation principles, acting, film production and compositional design.
• Ability to take on a delegated task with a minimum of supervision.
• Knowledge of Unix and shell scripting; expert knowledge of Maya, proprietary and other software programs.
• Good organization and communication skills.

As a Software Developer for Information Systems (InfoSys) you will work on robust cross platform web applications that enable Lucasfilm and ILM’s global studios to efficiently create movies and TV shows. The breadth of InfoSys applications ranges from proprietary enterprise applications to global production tracking and digital asset management software. Software Developers build new applications, support and enhance existing systems, and integrate 3rd party applications into existing software infrastructure. You will interact with a wide range of clients, learn new work flows, and come up with creative solutions to increase efficiency and productivity.

Information Systems exists to support fast moving production companies and you will work with the knowledge that whatever you write will immediately make the job easier for someone down the hall or at one of our global studios.

This role will be responsible for developing, integrating, and maintaining a Shotgun pipeline across four studios (London, Vancouver, San Francisco and Singapore). This position will work directly with PMs, artists, design, test & engineers to help ensure Shotgun is being executed as optimally as possible within our studio and successfully implement improvements to internal workflows.

Responsibilities:

• Full stack development of robust workflow based applications.
• Provide input on architecture of larger applications; build stand alone modules and smaller applications for use by artists and productions within the organization.
• Work with Project Managers to implement elegant and user-friendly interfaces for all new modules and/or applications.
• Ensure code is developed, deployed, documented and maintained in keeping with IS guidelines. Assist developers from other departments in working with IS data and framework.
• Monitor use of existing systems, and suggest strategies to improve health and reduce technical debt.
• Actively participate in code reviews, test new concepts and technologies, suggest improvements in technical direction and mentor other members of group in areas of expertise.

Education / Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or other technical degree.
• 5 years experience in professional software development.

Required Skills:

• Python fluency (Python 2.6+, Python 3.3+).
• Linux proficiency.
• Database/SQL experience.
• Full stack web development experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and client-facing skills
• Able to accommodate occasional domestic and/or international travel

Preferred Skills / Competencies:

• Web frameworks: Flask/Bottle, Django, Tornado/Cyclone, Pylons/Pyramid.
• JavaScript libraries: jQuery, Backbone, Marionette, Angular, React, Gulp, Mocha, Sinon.JS.
• Web servers: Nginx, Apache, uWSGI.
• Data stores/tools: Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLAlchemy, Redis, MongoDB, Solr.
• Tools: Virtualenv, Buildout, py.test, Ansible, Selenium.
• Async: Twisted, asyncio.
• Virtualization: AWS, VMWare, VirtualBox, Docker.
• Experience using Shotgun API and Toolkit at a VFX or Animation studio

The Senior Texture Artist is responsible for creating the textures, colors, and organic surface qualities needed in the completion of CG creatures and hard-surface models used in production.

Primary Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Works independently and with production team (VFX Supervisor, Texture Supervisor, Look Dev Supervisor) at an advanced level to execute the desired look of complicated CG models, including complex creatures and/or hard surface models, including ships, real world vehicles and environments.
• Participates as a team member in determining various design solutions; provides feedback to other members of the production by attending dailies on a regular basis.
• Mentors Junior and mid level Artists.
• Maintains or exceeds consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to the Talent Manager, and receives daily oversight and direction from the VFX Supervisors, Texture Supervisors and Look Dev Supervisor.

Education/Experience:

• BA Degree or equivalent work experience; familiarity with film production; computer graphics
• 5-8 years experience
• Demo reel and portfolio illustrating knowledge and experience in painting, illustration or design.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Proficient in Maya, Mari, Zbrush, Photoshop and UV unwrapping tools
• Ability to navigate complex pipelines.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to learn quickly and assimilate new information.
• Good interpersonal and organizational skills.

Preferred Skills/Competencies:

• Modeling skills a plus.
• Katana/Look Dev knowledge a plus.

The 3D Generalist demonstrates a strong base of knowledge in 3D Computer Generated Imagery Creation. Successful candidates will display a high degree of proficiency in some and a varied skill level across most of the areas of model, texture, shading/look development, basic hard surface animation and FX simulation as well as the ability to composite their own work. The 3D Generalist will work both individually and within a team, with tasks ranging from completing everything on a small number of shots to working on specific tasks within a larger body of work.

Successful candidates can model, texture, shade, light, look development and composite CG images or shots, however candidates will be considered if they demonstrate themselves to be exceptional in only one area, as long as they have some experience in all others and are willing to learn.

• Uses artistic and technical skills to work on all aspects of CG images or shots
• Creates high quality computer graphics within a shot using a variety of software programs, and working under the general supervision of Senior Level Artists and Digimatte Supervisors
• Participates as a team member in determining various aesthetic solutions; provides feedback to other members of the production by attending dailies on a regular
• basis
• Expected to mentor Apprentice and Jr. Artists and must be able to assist them with their shots
• Work to meet defined milestones within a timeline
• Source suitable reference materials for required assets
• Attend dailies and participate in creative problem solving

Education / Experience:

• Degree or 3-5 years relevant experience (professional OR amateur) in one or more of the following fields: Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Design or Photography

Required Skills / Competencies:

• Proven ability in one or more CG techniques, including modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, look development, or compositing
  OR
• Proven artistic ability in a non-CG field (impressive portfolio of figure drawing, landscape, animals, painting, composition, perspective, etc.)
• High level of problem solving or creative thinking skills

Technical Skills:

• Fluent in Photoshop
• Fluent in 3dsmax, Maya or similar
• Fluent in Vray or MRay or similar ray trace renderer
• Comparable software experience considered

Who We Are:

Industrial Light & Magic, founded in 1975 by George Lucas, has created some of the most iconic moments in motion picture history. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, The Avengers, theme park rides and interactive experiences, ILM continues to expand the possibilities of what visual entertainment can be.
ILM’s R&D and Core Pipeline groups develop the ground-breaking technology that our artists use to create dazzling visuals. ILM’s innovations have won 29 Scientific and Technical Academy Awards®. Today, we are 70+ visually-minded software engineers, working side-by-side with over a thousand digital artists in a fast-paced, intensely collaborative, creatively-driven film production environment, across studios in San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver, and London.

Where We’re Going:

With 40 years of experience, we’re the best in the business, but our restless spirit leaves us uncontent with the status quo, with the ambition to improve everything we do. We seek out the most challenging visual effects work, while still maintaining a sensible grounding. Our technology roadmap:
• Modernize our core infrastructure, integrating the latest technologies.
• Increase the throughput of our global compute and storage processes.
• Streamline our guru artist tools so they’re easier to learn and easier to use.
• Develop ever more powerful techniques that push the bounds of visual complexity and cinematic fidelity, and continue to create images no one has seen before.
We push the state of the art in technology, but always in service of the latest creative challenge.

What We’re Looking For:

We are looking for engineers for our Artist-Facing Pipeline engineering team to help build our next generation of 3D asset management and data-handoff tools. We need people who have:
• A passion for developing tools for master artists.
• A knack for simplifying complex processes.
• Experience with visual effects production pipelines.
This is a full-time engineering position, so you need a solid background in software engineering and a thorough knowledge of computer graphics. You don’t need to be a professional UX designer, but you should have a keen sense for how creative people use technology to work together under pressure.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop tools, structures, and pipeline systems that define how artists assemble and manage massively complex 3D scenes.
• Design user interfaces for authoring, validating, publishing, and tracking 3D and 2D data as it moves through the production pipeline.
• Extend, optimize, and simplify a complex network of automated batch processes.
• Integrate commercial applications such as Maya, Houdini, Katana, Shotgun, etc.
• Work with and extend ILM’s proprietary content creation systems.
• Work in a collaborative team of software engineers, and work directly with highly specialized and supremely talented artists.
• Split your time between long-term software development projects and day-to-day support of active shows.

Requirements

Education / Experience:

• BS or advanced degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in professional software development and/or VFX production.

Personal Skills:

• An intuitive understanding of the demands of a fast-paced, creatively-driven visual effects production environment.
• Collaboration: a readiness to trust others, be trustworthy, and play nice.
• Communication: an ability to express yourself concisely, a willingness to speak up, and a conviction to keep everyone informed of progress and issues.
• Empathy: an ability to listen intently and understand artists’ needs.
• Creativity: an insightful and analytical thinker, and a creative problem solver.

Technical Skills:

• Expert knowledge of programming in python and/or C++ on Linux.
• Thorough knowledge of computer graphics and animation concepts: character rigging, geometric deformations, dynamic simulation, shading and rendering, etc.
• Experience with commercial animation and VFX software applications: Maya, Houdini, RV, Shotgun, etc.
• Knowledge of industry-standard scene data formats: Alembic, USD, etc.
• Experience with GUI toolkits: Qt, PyQt/PySide, etc.
• Thorough knowledge of software design/development principles: design patterns, object-oriented design, agile development, etc.
• Experience with revision control and release management: Perforce/SVN, Git, etc.
• Experience working with a large, complex, mature, and dynamic code base.

The FX Supervisor is primarily responsible for leading a team of Effects Technical Directors, and managing the daily operations of the Effects team and Production needs. The FX Supervisor will supervise the Effects team in both the technical and artistic aspects of the visual effects production.

• Supervise the Effects team to deliver the desired effect for the film.
• Provide constructive creative oversight and feedback to the Effects Technical Directors.
• Partner closely with show and production leadership to ensure the desired effects are delivered and that deadlines are met.
• Responsible for guiding the overall effects and simulations on schedule and budget.
• Partners with production management to provide artists with performance feedback, guidance, mentoring, resolving performance issues and maintaining positive morale amongst the crew.
• Attends all relevant meetings to promote effective communication throughout the production team.

Education / Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Graphics or equivalent work experience.
• Expert Maya software, and knowledge and experience in Python, Hscript or Mel.
• 10+ year’s production experience, also with experience in a leadership role in film visual effects
• Highly proficient skills in technical problem solving
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal)

Skills / Competencies:
• Proficiency with Linux, Unix
• Expertise with Maya and Houdini
• Professional experience with python scripting
• Produced effects smoke, fire, dust, explosions, water, clouds, steam and particles.

The Technical Assistant II (TA) is responsible for overseeing all incoming and outgoing media to and from clients as well as outsourced vendors. TA’s are responsible for tracking and managing all digital information through the CG pipeline. Serves as the liaison for digital resources and data pipeline information between Production, CG Supervisors, Artists, and Technical Support Staff.

• Responsible for loading of all incoming scans and digital deliveries from an outside post facility and on-set artists and supervisors.
• Responsible for the output of all hi-res images for digital delivery to client.
• Use proprietary tools to convert files and apply look up tables
• Ensure that files are converted and loaded properly by consulting with Color Science team.
• Clearly communicating any issues or problems with deliverables to production.
• Responsible for managing, tracking and reviewing all work sent out to and received by third party partners and shows and communicating any information to appropriate parties as it relates to this process.
• Package up and QC assets as requested by clients
• Unpacking and integration of deliverables back into the ILM pipeline.
• Interacting with Show Supervisors, Production Engineering, and CG Artists as needed to ensure smooth flow of data in and out of the studio.
• Transcoding of file formats and monitoring of file transfers to and from various sources.
• Assisting with distribution, debugging, and processing of work coming back
• Collaborating closely with Production Assistant/Coordinator in charge of communicating with External Vendors.
• To ensure images or assets are maintained within ILM’s current security standards.
• To notify management of any security breaches or misuse of company or client assets.
• Communicating directly with key production, artistic and support personnel internally.
• Communicating directly with third-party partners when needed. Communication is preferably handled through the shows’ Production.
• Documentation and dissemination of current operating procedures.
• Timely reporting of equipment or system failures to the engineering staff
• Understand and work within ILM coding standards and provide proper documentation for any tools created.
• Provide training and assistance to new co-workers on tool sets and workflows

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Film Production or equivalent degree.
• 1-2 years relevant work experience

Required Skills / Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact with diverse personalities.
• Proven ability and experience working well on teams.
• Strong time management skills; Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Aesthetic eye and/or artistic background highly desired.
• Familiarity with film and video post-production and/or computer graphics techniques highly desired.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and in team settings.
• Highly motivated.
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to adapt to a high pressure, fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to work shift hours as required
• High technical quality control
• To have a strong work ethic with dedicated and high customer service.

Technical Skills:

• Proven Knowledge of and experience with Mac, Linux & Windows operating systems.
• Strong scripting language (e.g. Python, Perl) and programming language (e.g. C/C++, Java) is desired.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, 3D animation software (e.g. Maya) highly desired.
• Database knowledge preferred (e.g. Oracle, Redis, MongoDB, Cassandra)
• Knowledge of networking, tape backup systems, hardware a plus
• VFX, Feature Animation or Episodic production experience a plus

The VFX Production Accountant is responsible for the handling of complex production finance work for specific project(s), which requires an understanding of accounting principles and an advanced understanding of the Visual Effects production process. Works with discretion as to work details on assignments of a varied nature. Provides general and specialized analysis support. Works closely with VFX Producers and other production staff.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintains assigned production accounting records.
• Assists Producer in managing budgets and Estimated Final Cost (EFC) Reports.
• Works with other ILM facilities in developing budgets, EFC, and weekly status reports.
• Prepares cost analyses and other special reports as needed.
• Prepares weekly status reports for the VFX Producer and Executive Management.
• Prepares weekly billings for rebillable costs as required.
• Reviews weekly detail reports for accuracy and makes reclassification as required.
• Provides show information needed for facility forecasting and planning.
• Works with legal to assure contracts are in place and contractual terms are followed.
• Works with external production manager to integrate remote facility and outside vendor documentation.
• Other responsibilities to support the facility as a whole as assigned.

Education, Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree is required and a C.P.A. or M.B.A. is strongly encouraged. 6-8 years of professional experience.
• Three or more years Feature (or entertainment/advertising industries) production finance/accounting experience. Expert proficiency in Excel. Experience with IT applications such as Oracle (Oracle Projects.) TM1 experience a plus.
• An energetic, resourceful, and hands-on individual with a strong service orientation. Ability to handle multiple tasks within a high-pressure environment while meeting strict deadlines. Focused on continuing improvements to the organization in striving for excellence.
• Must be flexible, adaptable to working in creatively driven environment. Handles challenging issues with diplomacy. Able to facilitate cross-functional problem-solving.
• Business partnering approach. Open and direct communication style, good listening skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly motivated, seasoned and self-assured.
• A well developed sense of humor helps to bring perspective and energy to the team.

Lighting Technical Directors are responsible for the lighting, rendering and basic compositing of complex shots.

• Designs and creates lighting and the look of computer generated objects and scenes.
• Creates images, effects and programs for digitally composited sequences.
• Responsible for compiling the various elements of a shot and seeing it through to completion

Requirements:

• Advanced experience with either Maya, XSI, 3DS Max, Houdini or other software.
• Bachelor’s degree in CS, engineering or CG.
• Exhibits strong teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking.
• Demo reel required.
• 3-5+ years feature film experience preferred.
• Linux and Python scripting or shader authoring preferred; C++ skills also applicable.

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