Freelance: Lead FX Technical Director

Job description

This is a freelance position within the New York team, candidates must be available from roughly September 2026 thru May 2027. Remote work is acceptable (from within the USA), but hybrid is encouraged and you may need to come into the office upon request. Ideal candidates will be based in the New York area, and must have valid US work authorization at time of hire. The Lead FX Technical Director oversees the artistic vision and technical execution of complex naturalistic physical effects while maintaining specialized authority over character and creature dynamics (cloth, fur, hair, skin, and muscle simulations). As the Lead, you will serve as a primary technical mentor, driving best practices for procedural simulations, pipeline architecture, and physical fidelity while also acting as communication point for Supervisors and Artists for both technical and artistic decisions. What you’ll do Lead, mentor, and supervise a team of CFX and FX Technical Directors, setting artistic and technical standards for complex character dynamic simulations and environmental FX Design, build, and stress-test production setups for complex character/creature FX (hero cloth, hair/fur groom dynamics, skin drift, and tissue/muscle deformation) alongside traditional FX Run hero-level shot simulations, perform shot sculpting, apply lighting and shaders, and produce reviewable composites for final delivery Partner with other departments to ensure seamless asset handoffs and resolve inter-departmental pipeline bottlenecks Conduct regular artistic and technical reviews, providing clear, constructive feedback to team members to ensure output aligns with project targets and visual expectations High-level mastery of Houdini (including Vellum, Carbon, FLIP, and VEX) and Maya Proven track record in a senior or lead capacity, with deep specialization in character dynamics (cloth, fur/hair, skin, and muscle system simulations) Exceptional understanding of animation principles, physical dynamics, real-world motion, and creature anatomy/biomechanics Advanced scripting and tool development skills in Python, VEX, and HScript within a Linux operating environment Deep familiarity with end-to-end visual effects pipelines, including multi-package asset transfer and cross-departmental dependency management Solid working knowledge of lighting/rendering tools (Arnold, V-Ray) and compositing software (Nuke) for element integration and preview renders Strong creative problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to troubleshoot complex technical barriers under strict production timelines Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical challenges into actionable guidance for artists and supervisors alike You might also have Programming experience in C/C++ with exposure to the Houdini HDK or Maya API Advanced Unix shell scripting and experience navigating USD (Universal Scene Description) pipelines New York Employees Pay Range: $600 - $800 per day The posted range describes the minimum to maximum range for this job description in the state of New York. The range is posted in accordance with the New York Pay Transparency Bill. The range for this same position may be lower or higher in markets outside of New York City. Pay is dependent on the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. Accessibility Statement Our New York studio is fully accessible, with step-free entry, accessible toilets on all floors, and quiet spaces available. We are committed to supporting disabled colleagues and providing an inclusive workplace for everyone. Application Process To apply, please complete the following application form We review all applications manually and do not use artificial intelligence to screen candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let us know—we are happy to accommodate your needs.