Industrial Light & Magic hiring Lead Motion Editor, Mumbai

Industrial Light & Magic is seeking a skilled and proactive Lead Motion Editor to join our dynamic team in Mumbai, India. In this role, you will take ownership of advanced motion-capture editing, retargeting, and animation refinement workflows for high-end film visual effects. You will combine technical expertise with a keen artistic eye to elevate actor performances, ensure seamless interactions between characters and environments, and mentor junior artists to drive exceptional production standards.

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) stands at the pinnacle of the global visual effects and entertainment industry, continuously redefining what is possible in cinematic storytelling through technological innovation and artistic mastery. As a Lead Motion Editor based in our vibrant Mumbai studio, you will occupy a critical juncture in our production pipeline, bridging the gap between raw motion capture data and polished, emotionally resonant final animation.

This role “Lead Motion Editor” demands a unique hybrid of technical precision and artistic intuition, where your daily contributions will directly impact blockbuster feature films seen by millions across the globe. You will be entrusted with elevating the performances of digital characters, breathing life into complex creature simulations, and ensuring that every frame meets the uncompromising visual standards that have defined ILM for decades.

Job Overview : Lead Motion Editor

Primary Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Motion Retargeting: Independently and proficiently execute the transfer of motion data from one hierarchy to another with high precision and technical accuracy.

• Performance Enhancement: Refine and adjust actor and actress performances non-destructively to achieve the highest possible quality standard while preserving the integrity of the original capture.

• Interaction and Contact Management: Meticulously adjust physical interactions and contacts between characters, props, environmental elements, and terrain to maintain realism and weight.

• Anatomical and Detail Animation: Enhance overall body performances by adding detailed finger, toe, and tail animations, alongside targeted body adjustments that improve posture, gesture, and perceived weight.

• Motion Blending and Transitions: Leverage a deep understanding of blending workflows to create fluid, believable, and natural transitions between distinct animation clips.

• Mentorship and Team Support: Actively support and mentor junior members of the team by troubleshooting technical roadblocks, teaching advanced techniques, and continuously pushing quality standards forward.

Education and Experience

• A degree in Computer Science, Computer Visualisation, Computer Animation, or equivalent professional industry experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience utilizing MotionBuilder, Blender, Nuance, and/or Maya alongside motion-captured performances.
• Proven professional experience working within high-end film visual effects, supported by an up-to-date and competitive showreel.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Technical Expertise: Exceptional understanding of advanced retargeting techniques, motion blending, and mocap animation workflows.
• Animation Foundations: Comprehensive knowledge of core animation principles, timing, posture, and a sharp eye for motion nuances.
• Problem-Solving & Attention to Detail: Proactive approach to identifying, analyzing, and resolving technical challenges with exceptional attention to detail.
• Software Proficiency: Strong background utilizing industry-standard tools including Maya, Blender, Nuance, and MotionBuilder. (Familiarity with Linux environments and Vicon Shogun Post is considered a strong plus.)
• Interpersonal Abilities: Excellent collaborative skills, strong communication capabilities, and an eagerness to learn, adapt, and develop within a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership: Proven capability to guide, mentor, and elevate junior team members.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• Extensive, specialized experience working directly with motion-capture (mocap) animation data.
• Advanced, deep-level proficiency in Autodesk Maya.
• Comprehensive technical knowledge regarding specialized retargeting and blending methodologies.

The ideal candidate brings a robust educational and professional background in computer animation, computer science, or computer visualization, backed by a compelling, up-to-date showreel demonstrating high-end film visual effects work. Mastery of core industry software suites—including MotionBuilder, Blender, Nuance, and Autodesk Maya—is essential, alongside a strong technical foundation in Linux environments and specialized motion-capture software such as Vicon Shogun Post.

Your deep-seated understanding of animation principles, timing, and posture, paired with a proactive, problem-solving mindset, will allow you to navigate heavy multi-asset scenes and complex technical constraints with confidence.

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