Gaffer/rendering Workflow Td

Based in Vancouver BC, Image Engine is a world-class visual effects studio led by a team of creative and passionate individuals who are committed to furthering the art of visual storytelling. We offer a full range of visual effects services from concept designs and pre-visualization to computer-generated animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects.

Involved from the very first stages of production, our exceptionally talented crew works closely with clients to push artistic and technical boundaries. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation, with a focus on continually evolving our robust production pipelines and pioneering in the area of proprietary software development.

Well-known for our groundbreaking alien animations in Neill Blomkamp’s critically-acclaimed film District 9, we have gone on to produce more award-winning work in The Mandalorian, Game Of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, Elysium, and most recently, we received an Emmy Award for our VFX work in The Book of Boba Fett.

Our recent productions include The Mandalorian: Season 3, The Three-Body Problem, Willow, The School for Good and Evil, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Moon Knight, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Snowpiercer, Hawkeye, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mulan, and much more.

**POSITION PURPOSE**

As part of a cohesive team of developers and TDs, the Workflow TD (Gaffer/Rendering) uses their curiosity and investigative skills every day. They listen to our artists, department supervisors, and CG supervisors to identify their challenges and provide support and guidance, as well as tool implementations and workflow designs that integrate smoothly within the overall Image Engine production pipeline.

Workflow TDs contribute to the overall operation and improvement of the facility pipeline. This includes engaging in cross-department communication, requirements gathering, flagging inefficiencies and providing solutions to critical production issues, as well as leading the adoption and advocacy of new processes and technologies through training and documentation.

**DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Act as primary workflow problem-solver, educator and experience optimizer for all departments interacting with Gaffer & Arnold, developing a comprehensive knowledge of the CG workflow at Image Engine
- Analyze scene assembly and rendering requirements across all shows, determining the appropriate facility solutions to their creative and technical challenges in conjunction with the Digital Workflow Supervisor, with a focus on standardizing and streamlining process and workflow across shows
- Support artists, supervisors and production crew in the smooth execution of tasks and flow of data throughout our pipeline
- Support and extend the existing pipeline while also keeping an eye on how we want to work in the future, with an emphasis on intuitive, artist friendly tools and optimizing process and data-flow
- Create and maintain facility and show-specific Gaffer scripts, tools and templates
- Act as an additional point of support for shot specific scene assembly and rendering issues, alongside leads and supervisors, escalating issues with IT, Development or 3rd Party Vendors, building simplified test cases from production data as required
- Test new software releases in advance of their use in production. Evaluate new features, providing feedback to Development as well as production examples & training to artists
- Alongside department leads and supervisors, provide scene assembly and render optimization guidance, teaching best-practices and suggesting alternate approaches where appropriate
- Consult with department leads, and supervisors to ensure solutions to their needs are met while maintaining the overall design ethos of the Image Engine pipeline
- Communicate successes and challenges faced by each production to the Digital Workflow Supervisor

**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE**
- Proven experience developing tools for VFX feature films
- A degree or equivalent education and experience in Computer Graphics, Computer Science, or other related course
- A solid understanding and interest in multiple areas within VFX production and software development (e.g. asset management, support, colour science, lighting, fx, etc) a plus
- Demonstrated production experience in Lighting/Look Development/Rendering is a plus

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**

**Technical skills**
- Advanced knowledge of procedural scene assembly in Gaffer, Katana, or Houdini Solaris, as well as working knowledge of other DCCs such as Maya, Nuke or equivalent
- Advanced knowledge of Arnold or equivalent path-tracing production renderer
- Experience with Shotgun, RV, and interacting with production asset management systems
- Strong Python experience
- Strong understanding of CG shot production workflow
- Familiarity with OSL and GLSL is a plus

**Core skills**
- Curiosity. A genuine interest in understanding why we approach the work the w