🎬 Illumination Studios Paris hiring- VFX artist

Illumination Studios Paris—the creative powerhouse behind global blockbusters like Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing—is seeking a talented and highly experienced Senior VFX Artist to join our team in Paris.

In this role, you will be instrumental in crafting the high-quality visual effects that have become the hallmark of our animation style. You will work within an expert-led environment, bridging the gap between artistic concept and technical execution to produce both stylized and photorealistic effects. We are looking for a professional who thrives in a collaborative studio setting and is eager to contribute to world-class feature film animation. This position is strictly on-site, requiring a candidate who is ready to engage daily with our art and FX teams in the heart of our Paris studio.

Job Overiew

Responsibilities:

• Design and create high-quality FX work in Houdini and Maya
• Develop both stylized and photorealistic effects based on concept art
• Collaborate with the Art Department to accurately translate creative designs into stunning visuals
• Partner with FX specialists to ensure all shots meet the highest production standards

Qualifications:

• Strong expertise in Houdini & Maya
• Proven experience with FX elements, fluids, and particle dynamics
• Ability to quickly adapt to in-house production tools
• Basic knowledge of lighting & compositing (Nuke)
• Familiarity with Python, MEL, Hscript is a plus
• Prior feature film experience is required
• Fluency in French and/or English
• Strong communication, teamwork, and time-management skills

Additional Details:

• On-site position in Paris (no remote work)
• EU citizens or candidates with a valid French work permit are preferred
• Non-EU senior-level candidates with significant experience may be considered due to visa complexities

How to Apply

If you are a senior-level artist ready to contribute to our next major feature, please visit the Illumination Careers page to submit your application. Ensure your portfolio specifically highlights your Houdini/Maya FX work, including examples of fluid and particle dynamics.

Illumination Studios Paris is an equal opportunity employer committed to artistic excellence and innovation.