FX TD (Mid-Level & Senior Roles) – Image Engine

Image Engine Design Inc. is currently expanding its world-class FX TD department. We are seeking talented, driven, and technically proficient FX Technical Directors at both the Mid and Senior levels to join our studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Since its inception in 1995, Image Engine has built a global reputation for creating some of the most iconic visual effects in cinematic history. From the revolutionary creature work in District 9 and the complex environments of Game of Thrones to the explosive, high-octane simulations seen in The Mandalorian and Jurassic World, our team thrives on pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Whether you are a Mid-level artist looking to sharpen your craft under industry legends or a Senior TD ready to architect complex simulation frameworks and mentor the next generation, Image Engine offers an environment where your work will define the future of visual storytelling.

Job Overview : FX TD

Mid-Level FX TD

• Company: Image Engine Design Inc.
• Employment Type: Term Contract
• Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)
• Salary Range: $80,000 – $105,000 per year
• Experience Required: 2+ years in Houdini (Film/TV)
• Primary Software: Houdini, Nuke, Arnold
• Start Date: Immediate

Senior FX TD

• Company: Image Engine Design Inc.
• Employment Type: Term Contract
• Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)
• Salary Range: $111,800 – $123,500 per year
• Experience Required: 3+ years in Houdini (Film/TV)
• Primary Software: Houdini, Nuke, Arnold, VEX
• Start Date: June 2026

The Image Engine Advantage

At Image Engine, we don’t just “run shots”—we innovate. Our FX department is at the forefront of proceduralism, utilizing a robust pipeline built on Houdini and integrated with Arnold and Gaffer. We prioritize a culture of continuous learning, where R&D is integrated into the daily workflow.

Employee Benefits & Culture:

• Health & Wellness: 100% company-paid healthcare premiums from Day 1.
• Work-Life Balance: Up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year to ensure our team stays refreshed.
• Inclusion: A supportive, respectful, and empowering workplace that values diversity and teamwork.
• Location: Based in the heart of Vancouver’s vibrant VFX hub (candidates must be BC residents and eligible to work in Canada).

Position Purpose & Scope

For the Mid-Level FX TD:

You are the engine of the department. Your primary focus is the high-quality execution of effects within the studio’s established pipeline. You will take direction from Leads and Supervisors, applying your technical skills to solve shot-specific challenges. This role is designed for an artist who is technically self-sufficient but eager to be mentored by Seniors to eventually take on more complex architectural tasks.

For the Senior FX TD:

You are a technical architect and a mentor. Beyond delivering breathtaking visuals, you are responsible for the “big picture”—creating studio-wide tools, maintaining best practices, and guiding Mid and Junior artists. You act as a bridge between the creative vision of the VFX Supervisor and the technical execution of the team, ensuring that complex setups are scalable, optimized, and artist-friendly.

Detailed Duties & Responsibilities

1. Effects Animation & Simulation

• Procedural Creation: Both levels are responsible for generating realistic and believable effects, including but not limited to:

  • Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD): Complex destruction and fracture simulations.

  • Particle Dynamics: Fine-scale dust, debris, and magical/abstract effects.

  • Fluid Dynamics: High-resolution gas (fire, smoke) and liquid simulations.

  • Cloth & Soft Body: Integrated simulations for character and environment interaction.

• Senior Specifics: Seniors are expected to build these setups with a high degree of complexity and multiple dependencies, ensuring they can be “shotted out” across a sequence by other artists.

2. Technical Development & Pipeline Support

• HDA Development: Mid-levels will work with Leads to build Houdini Digital Assets (HDAs), while Seniors are expected to independently create and maintain these assets for studio-wide use.

• Rendering & Compositing: Creating render passes, beauty renders, and “slap comps” in Nuke to demonstrate how FX elements will integrate into the final frame.

• Documentation: Regularly contributing to the studio wiki to ensure techniques and workflows are preserved and shared across the team.

3. Production Communication

• Time Management: Accurately estimating the time required for tasks and proactively flagging potential schedule risks to Production Coordinators.

• Feedback Integration: Attending dailies and rounds to present work to VFX Supervisors. You must be able to interpret creative notes and translate them into technical adjustments.

• Cross-Departmental Synergy: Communicating with Lighting, Compositing, and Creature FX to ensure that data flows seamlessly and that assets are optimized for downstream departments.

Skills & Qualifications

Technical Proficiencies

• Houdini Mastery: A “Houdini-first” mindset. Deep knowledge of SOPs and DOPs is mandatory.

• Coding & Scripting: * Mid: Working knowledge of VEX and Hscript.

  • Senior: Strong/Advanced knowledge of VEX for custom solver manipulation and performance optimization.

• Rendering: Proficiency in Arnold (preferred) or other node-based renderers.

• Data Formats: Familiarity with OpenVDB, Alembic, and USD workflows.

• Compositing: A solid working knowledge of Nuke for pre-compositing FX elements.

Core Competencies

• Eye for Detail: A sophisticated understanding of physical movement, weight, and timing. You should know why a simulation “looks wrong” and how to fix it aesthetically.
• Troubleshooting: The ability to debug complex simulations and deal with competing priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Teamwork: Excellent communication skills. You must be able to explain your technical approach to non-technical production staff and collaborate with colleagues across different time zones or departments.

Experience Requirements

• Mid-Level: A minimum of 2 years of experience in feature film or high-end television production using Houdini.

• Senior Level: A minimum of 3 years of experience, with a demonstrated history of handling large-scale setups and providing leadership or informal mentorship to others.

Desirable “Plus” Skills (Both Levels)

• Python/Linux: Strong scripting skills in Python and comfort within a Linux/Unix environment.
• Broad Software Base: Experience with Maya, Gaffer, or specialized tools like RealFlow or Naiad.
• HDK Knowledge: For Seniors, knowledge of the Houdini Development Kit (C++) is a significant advantage for tool development.
• Education: A degree in Computer Science, Visual Arts, or a related field is preferred but not required if professional experience is exceptional.

Summary of the Hiring Process

Image Engine is looking for artists who are passionate about the “how” as much as the “what.” We provide the tools and the projects; you provide the ingenuity.

• Mid-Level Candidates: Focus on showing us your ability to execute high-quality shots and your willingness to learn the “Image Engine Way.”
• Senior Candidates: Focus on showing us your architectural setups, your mentorship style, and how you optimize simulations for massive render farms.

Image Engine Design Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our success is built on the unique perspectives and talents of our crew.

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