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Creature Technical Director

Job ID 10105335 Location Vancouver, Canada Business Industrial Light & Magic Date posted Oct. 30, 2024
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Job Summary:

Position Summary

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2-3 days onsite at a Company designated location and occasionally from home.

We are looking for an extraordinary teammate to join our Creature team. As a Creature Technical Director (TD), you will be responsible for the creation of outstanding character and creature rigs and simulations, using various software technologies. Creature TDs at ILM are able troubleshoot complicated creature issues, collaborate with their peers and produce high quality work under the direction and support of their supervisors.

At ILM, we believe a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it comes from! Do you thrive in a creative environment? Do you enjoy sharing knowledge and learning from others? If you love art, technology, and movies, then this might be the role you’re looking for!

ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and the Creature team embraces promising individuals with a variety backgrounds and experiences.

What You’ll Do

  • Creature rigging and enveloping in Maya

  • Set up and run cloth, hair, rigid body, crowd, and muscle simulations

  • Participate as a team member in achieving various aesthetic solutions

  • Mentor newer artists

  • Maintain or exceed a consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work

What We’re Looking For

  • At least three years of relevant professional VFX experience and at least a college level diploma or higher in computer graphics, fine arts, design, or photography, or related field; OR at least five years of relevant professional VFX experience in lieu of education

  • Experience creating body/face rigging in Maya for assets in digital animation, visual effects, games, commercials

  • Experience setting up and running cloth/hair/body/flesh/rigid body simulations

  • Understanding of anatomy and motion dynamics

  • Proficiency with Linux, Maya, and Houdini

  • Ability to learn quickly and assimilate new information

  • Experience with both proprietary simulation engines as well as off the shelf software packages as bonus

  • Nice to have: Python or VEX scripting, C++ programming, basic proficiency in another discipline such as modeling, texture, lighting, or animation


The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C$96,800 to C$123,900 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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 full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits, may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.

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About Industrial Light & Magic:

Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 325 feature films and has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box-office hits of all time and has contributed to 25 of the top 50. ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, the company continues to break new ground in visual effects, VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with ILM (Vancouver) Inc., which is part of a business we call Industrial Light & Magic.

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