Lead Crowd Technical Director

Job Description

A multi Oscar-winning creative studio, we have worked with some of the greatest storytellers in film today. Collaborating with directors and producers across the complete filmmaking process to help design, plan and create beautiful images, we focus on finding innovative creative solutions to support their vision and set new standards for visual effects in cinema.

Lead Crowd Technical Directors are responsible for creating, overseeing, and managing the motion of crowd simulations, including the animation and simulation of tens of thousands of characters for high-end visual effects films. This role combines senior-level operational tasks with leadership responsibilities.

Who we are:

Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to everything we create, whether in film, TV, advertising or immersive experiences. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

Responsibilities:
• Creating and supervising simulations of crowd characters as directed by the Visual Effects/CG Supervisor
• Developing and refining locomotion, motion, and triggering behaviors to ensure a variety of looks can be achieved
• Utilizing both proprietary and off-the-shelf crowd software to deliver the highest possible standards
• Coordinating with other departments involved in the crowd pipeline, including Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Motion Capture, and Lighting
• Driving the development of crowd tools and techniques to enhance efficiency and quality
• Building setups and preparing template scenes for shows
• Preparing shows to ensure smooth onboarding for Crowd TDs
• Mentoring and guiding junior Crowd TDs, fostering skill development and ensuring best practices
• Ensuring projects stay on schedule and meet set deadlines while maintaining the highest levels of quality
• Maintaining ongoing communication with Production and Leads regarding schedules and deadlines
• Reporting directly to the Head of Department (HOD)

Essential Skills:
• Extensive knowledge of Houdini, especially Houdini Crowds and Houdini Agent Definition; proficiency in Maya is a plus
• Strong creative problem-solving skills
• Strong debugging and optimization skills for improving performance and efficiency
• A keen appreciation of both the aesthetic and technical requirements of the role
• A deep understanding of animation principles and an eye for motion
• Strong programming/scripting skills (e.g., Vex, Python, and/or C++)
• A solid understanding of the dynamics of particle systems
• Experience building setups and preparing template scenes for shows
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to lead a team in a challenging, dynamic, and deadline-oriented environment
• Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise across departments effectively
• A comprehensive understanding of the entire visual effects process
• Familiarity with pipeline and workflow issues, especially working between multiple software packages
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn new processes, software, and technical skills
• Experience working in a Unix/Linux systems environment
• Experience developing tools, scripts, and plug-ins to streamline workflow
• Experience working with motion capture data

Desirable Skills:
• Previous experience in a similar role
• Understanding of AI and machine learning principles as they apply to crowd simulation
• Familiarity with procedural modeling techniques
Our Commitment:

Application Process

To apply, please complete the linked application form or submit your resume and portfolio to recruiters@framestore.com with the subject line: [Job Title - City].

Framestore is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rnz0x1-18-225-95-124-42 in your application.