Overview

POSITION PURPOSE

The Workflow TD provides front-line support and guidance to our VFX and Animation productions. The role spans the breadth of our pipeline, primarily supporting our VFX, colour and imaging workflows, extending into DCCs such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Gaffer and more. You will be focused on the continued integration and development of our pipeline, automation via tools and templates built upon Gaffer, an open-source, node-based VFX application, and the facilitation of a fluid data exchange across departments.

As part of a cohesive team of developers and TDs, the Workflow TD uses their curiosity and investigative skills every day. They listen to our artists, supervisors, and production staff 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.

The Workflow TD contributes to the overall operation and improvement of the facility pipeline. This includes engaging in cross-department communication, flagging inefficiencies, determining the production requirements for future development, 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 workflow problem-solver, educator and experience optimizer for all departments, developing a comprehensive knowledge of the workflow at Image Engine
Configure and support shows, including colour and formatting of media ingest, deliveries, dailies, etc.
Support artists, supervisors and production crew in the smooth execution of tasks and flow of data throughout our pipeline
Determine the appropriate technical solutions to creative and technical production challenges in conjunction with the Digital Workflow Supervisor
Consult with production, department leads and supervisors to ensure solutions to their needs are met while maintaining the overall design ethos of the Image Engine pipeline
Maintain elements of the existing pipeline while designing improvements with an emphasis on intuitive, artist friendly tools and optimizing process and data-flow
Create and maintain facility or show-specific scripts, tools and templates
Act as an additional point of support for shot based issues, alongside leads and supervisors
Communicate successes and challenges faced by production and departments to the Digital Workflow Supervisor
Actively triage technical issues and communicate with IT, Development or 3rd Party Vendors as required

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Prior experience as a Pipeline TD or similar
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, user support, colour science, lighting, compositing, fx, etc)
Prior filmmaking experience or work as a compositing/VFX artist is highly regarded

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

Experience with Python is required
Experience with Linux is required
Solid and clean coding practices to understand and expand on our existing code base
Experience developing for and supporting one or more DCCs such as Nuke, Maya, Katana, Houdini, or equivalent
Experience with Shotgun, RV, and interfacing with production asset management systems
Understanding of media encoding and image processing as well as colour science is a plus

Core skills

A genuine interest in understanding why we approach the work the way we do, a passion for improving that process and the drive to deliver results
Have a knack for helping others, taking pleasure in continually improving their day-to-day experience
Ability to effectively troubleshoot while dealing with competing priorities and projects
Ability to take direction and feedback from a supervisor or a peer
Team oriented with good communication skills. Able to work independently but not in isolation, as well as part of a close team
Knowing how to fit a solution to the scope of the problem and the available time
Willingness to extend beyond your current specializations to help a larger production effort as and when required, and to cross-train in other disciplines
Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications