The CG FX Lead is a pivotal leadership role at Flying Bark Productions, tasked with driving the artistic vision and technical execution of visual effects for our highest-profile animated feature films and episodic series. Managing the bridge between directorial intent and technical execution, you will oversee a talented team of FX artists, establishing style benchmarks, look-developing cutting-edge simulations, and maintaining an optimized asset library.
This role demands a unique combination of elite technical mastery (specifically within Houdini, Maya, Katana, and Nuke) and empathetic, people-first leadership. Operating in a hybrid capacity from our state-of-the-art Sydney studio, you will ensure your department meets rigorous creative standards and production deadlines while actively fostering a collaborative, supportive, and highly efficient team culture.
Job Overview : CG FX Lead
| Attribute | Details |
| Job Title | CG FX Lead |
| Company | Flying Bark Productions |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid (In-Studio Days in Alexandria / Flexible Work-from-Home) |
| Employment Type | Full-Time, Maximum Term (Fixed-Term Contract) |
| Core Software Pipeline | Houdini, Maya, Katana, Nuke |
| Key Projects | Avatar: The Last Airbender (Feature Film), Ghostbusters (Netflix Series), Stranger Things (Netflix Series), Zac Power (Feature Film) |
| Benefits Eligibility | Novated leasing & full benefits available for contracts 12 months or longer |
Welcome to Flying Bark Productions
Flying Bark Productions is not just an animation studio; it is a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly innovative global hub for visual storytelling. For over 50 years, our world-class 2D and 3D production facilities have generated award-winning feature films and television series that capture the imaginations of audiences worldwide. We pride ourselves on pushing the absolute boundaries of character animation, technical innovation, and narrative depth.
When you join Flying Bark, you are joining a legacy of creativity that looks firmly toward the future. Our current production slate is a testament to our industry-standing reputation, featuring some of the most highly anticipated, high-profile properties in contemporary entertainment. As a member of our leadership team, you will have the unique opportunity to leave your creative footprint on monumental projects, including:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (The highly anticipated animated feature film)
- Netflix’s Ghostbusters (An all-new animated series adaptation)
- Stranger Things (The expanding universe’s animated series)
- Zac Power (Our upcoming, action-packed feature film)
We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and technically masterful CG FX Lead to join our studio in Sydney. Operating under a flexible hybrid model, this leadership position is ideal for an artist who balances elite technical execution with an empathetic, inspiring approach to team management.
Position Purpose & Detailed Scope
The CG FX Lead sits at the critical intersection of creative vision, technical pipeline architecture, and team mentorship. In this role, you are responsible for bridging the gap between directorial ambition and practical execution. You will collaborate closely with creative Supervisors and Directors to establish, refine, and drive the overall aesthetic and motion design of visual effects across our flagship episodic series and feature films.
Beyond your individual technical contributions—such as look-development and complex asset creation—you will serve as the captain of the FX department. You will be responsible for defining the workflow standards, organizing scalable FX libraries, and supervising a team of talented artists. Your mission is to ensure that all deliverables are met on time, within budget, and to the exceptionally high creative benchmarks that Flying Bark is known for.
Key Responsibilities as CG FX Lead
1. Creative Leadership & Aesthetic Direction
- Establish Visual Identity: Partner directly with the VFX and Creative Supervisors to define the look, feel, behavior, and physical logic of the FX for each specific program.
- Look-Development: Spearhead look-development pipelines to explore, prototype, and establish new, groundbreaking visual effects that align with the specific stylistic choices of each project (ranging from stylized anime aesthetics to cinematic realism).
- Quality Control: Review daily work submissions from the FX crew. Provide constructive, precise, and actionable creative and technical feedback to ensure continuity and artistic excellence across all shots.
2. Technical Execution & Pipeline Management
- Asset Generation: Author and build highly optimized, complex, and scalable 3D effects (both scene-specific and reusable templates) utilizing procedural workflows.
- Multi-Platform Compatibility: Generate and maintain compatible caches for smooth export and integration into various multi-software pipelines, including Katana, Maya, Houdini, and Nuke.
- Comprehensive Simulation Types: Author a vast range of customary and advanced CG effects, including but not limited to complex particle networks, dynamic fluid simulations, rigid/soft body destruction, and particle systems configured to drive crowd cycle paths.
- Rendering & Compositing Prep: Handle the rendering of FX elements into show-compatible image format types, ensuring seamless integration for the Compositing department in Nuke.
3. Team Mentorship & Departmental Operations
- Inspire and Cultivate Talent: Direct, motivate, and mentor the FX crew. Foster an environment of continuous learning, artistic growth, and psychological safety.
- Performance Management: In close coordination with the Line Producer, carry out regular performance reviews, goal-setting sessions, and career-tracking management for the FX team.
- Library Optimization: Supervise and maintain a highly structured FX asset library. Curate and optimize reusable assets to set style benchmarks, maximize production efficiency, and eliminate repetitive labor.
4. Production, Scheduling & Collaboration
- Milestone Management: Work proactively within deadlines established by the production crew. Anticipate bottlenecks, flag scheduling pressures early, and formulate contingency plans.
- Cross-Departmental Synergy: Coordinate closely with Production Coordinators and Animation Supervisors to streamline shot handoffs, ensuring the real-time status of each shot is accurately tracked across the studio pipeline.
- Relationship Building: Cultivate strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships with key stakeholders, including Directors, Producers, and parallel department leads (Assets, Animation, Lighting, and Comp).
About You (Selection Criteria)
Flying Bark Productions, To thrive in this role, you must be an accomplished technical artist who values human connection, collaboration, and structured organization just as much as a beautiful simulation. We are looking for an individual who brings the following balance of interpersonal skills and technical mastery to the table:
Personal Attributes & Soft Skills for CG FX Lead
- Collaborative Mindset: A proven ability to work harmoniously within a high-energy team environment and actively contribute to maintaining positive, inclusive team dynamics.
- Proactive Problem-Solving: A forward-thinking approach to production, with the ability to predict technical obstacles, troubleshoot pipeline errors, and devise creative solutions before they impact schedules.
- Self-Management: Highly organized, with the capability to manage your own task load, delegate effectively, and hit tight production deadlines under pressure.
- Clear Communication: An articulate communicator who knows when to seek information, how to deliver transparent feedback, and how to translate abstract creative ideas into practical technical instructions.
- Adaptability: Resilient and flexible when facing shifting production requirements, creative pivots, or evolving technology.
Technical Skill Requirements
- Maya: Extensive professional experience utilizing Autodesk Maya for core 3D asset workflows and scene layout.
- Houdini: Exceptional proficiency in SideFX Houdini, with a deep understanding of VEX, VOPS, SOPs, and dynamics contexts (DOPs: Pyro, FLIP, RBD, POPs).
- Nuke: Strong functional knowledge of Foundry Nuke, enabling you to pre-comp your own elements and understand how FX layers interact with lighting and compositing variables.
- Katana: Practical experience utilizing Foundry Katana for look-development, lighting integration, and rendering workflows.
Why Work with Flying Bark Productions?
Flying Bark Productions believe that exceptional art comes from supported, happy, and inspired people. Our studio culture is frequently cited by our staff as the best they have ever experienced. We celebrate diversity, foster a vibrant social community, and offer a work environment that prioritizes your holistic well-being.
An Inspiring Physical & Digital Space
Our industry-leading studio space in Alexandria (Sydney) is custom-built to spark creativity and offer moments of rest. When you work on-site, you will have access to:
- A state-of-the-art private cinema for screenings and dailies.
- A designated Quiet Room and a serene Zen Garden for reflection and mindfulness.
- A fully equipped Games Room to unwind with colleagues.
- A dog-friendly policy—we love our fluffy companions, and you will frequently interact with our regular studio dogs!
A Thriving Social Culture
Flying Bark Productions work hard, but we celebrate even harder. Our dedicated Culture Club manages a busy social calendar designed to keep our team connected, energized, and celebrated. Enjoy regular cake days, studio movie nights, spectacular project wrap parties, and community initiatives.
Community with a Conscience
The “Barkers” have massive hearts. Through our internal fundraising arm, Paws for a Cause, we actively raise much-needed funds and awareness for crucial charitable organizations, including Beyond Blue, the RSPCA, and the Cancer Council.
Perks & Benefits
Flying Bark Productions provide a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, your financial future, and your mental health.
- Hybrid Work Model: Strike the perfect work-life balance with a flexible hybrid schedule that blends collaborative in-studio days with focused work-from-home flexibility.
- Complimentary Daily Breakfast: Start your workday right with breakfast served daily in the studio—completely on us!
- Mental Health & Well-being Support: Access round-the-clock professional counseling and mental health resources via our specialized Employee Assistance Provider (EAP), Support Act. We also have dedicated, qualified Mental Health First Aid staff on-site.
- Flare Benefits Platform: Gain immediate access to exclusive digital discounts, cashback offers, and premium deals at hundreds of major Australian retailers.
- Health Insurance Discounts: Take advantage of our corporate partnership with Bupa to compare plans and save up to $300 on private health cover.
- Financial & Superannuation Initiatives: Access tailored financial well-being resources and specialized guidance through our superannuation partner, Media Super.
- Novated Leasing (Flare Cars): Eligible employees (permanent staff or fixed-term contractors on terms of 12 months or more) can salary-package a vehicle, saving an average of $10,000 per year on car ownership and running costs.
- Professional Growth: We are deeply invested in your career progression, offering ongoing training, technical upskilling opportunities, and leadership support.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Flying Bark Productions is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
