Nuke Artist Job at Baked studios, New York

More about Nuke Artist Job Vacancy – At Baked Studios, we believe in the power of invisible storytelling. Our New York team is a collective of artists who thrive on the challenge of high-end episodic television and feature film work. We don’t just “do VFX”; we solve visual puzzles. From period-accurate set extensions to high-stakes action sequences, our work demands a level of artistry where the audience never realizes a digital hand was involved.

We are looking for a Mid-Level Nuke Artist who embodies this philosophy—someone who possesses the technical rigor of a compositor and the discerning eye of a photographer.

Nuke Artist Job Overview

• Company: Baked Studios
• Location: New York, NY (Tri-State Area)
• Reporting to: VFX Supervisor / 2D Lead

The Role: Crafting the Final Image

As a Mid-Level Nuke Artist at Baked Studios, you are the final architect of the frame. You will take the raw ingredients of a production—live-action plates, 3D renders, matte paintings, and FX simulations—and bake them into a singular, cohesive reality. This is a role for an artist who has moved beyond basic rotoscoping and prep and is now ready to take ownership of complex, high-visibility shots.

Key Responsibility: Seamless Integration

The hallmark of a Baked Studios shot is its seamlessness. Your primary objective is to integrate various layers of a live-action shot so perfectly that they appear to have been captured in-camera.

• Optical Accuracy: You will match grain, sensor noise, chromatic aberration, and lens flares with surgical precision.

• Depth & Atmosphere: You must demonstrate a mastery of “black levels” and atmospheric haze to ensure CG elements sit correctly within the depth of a scene.

• Edge Management: You understand that the “tell” of a bad composite is in the edges. You will use advanced techniques to ensure light wraps and edge blending are physically accurate.

Technical Execution & Workflow for this Nuke Artist Job

Baked Studios utilizes a high-performance Nuke pipeline. We expect our Mid-Level artists to be power users who can navigate complex scripts with efficiency.

• 2.5D & 3D Environments: You will utilize Nuke’s 3D workspace for projections and set extensions. This includes building 3D cards, using camera projections to “patch” plates, and managing digital environments without always relying on a full 3D department pass.

• Tracking & Matchmoving: You are proficient in both 2D point tracking and 3D camera tracking. You can solve difficult tracks on handheld footage or plates with minimal tracking markers.

• Multi-Channel Compositing: You will work with multi-channel EXRs and AOVs. You should know how to “break out” a CG render to manipulate specular, reflection, and diffuse passes independently to achieve the Supervisor’s vision.

Collaboration & Mentorship

At Baked, we work in a highly collaborative ecosystem. You aren’t working in a silo; you are part of a creative engine.

• Supervisory Alignment: You will work closely with VFX Supervisors to translate creative briefs into technical reality.

• Cross-Department Synergy: You will partner with Lighters and 3D Artists to ensure the assets being delivered to the 2D department are optimized for a successful composite.

• Quality Control: You are responsible for delivering shots to the highest possible standard, ensuring they are tech-checked and ready for client review.

Detailed Requirements :

Professional Experience

• The Sweet Spot: You have 3–5 years of professional Nuke experience in a fast-paced studio environment (Film or High-End Episodic).

• The Portfolio: Your reel demonstrates a high level of finish, showing “before and after” breakdowns of complex integration and invisible VFX.

• Academic/Artistic Foundation: A strong sense of composition, color theory, and photographic logic is essential. You understand how light behaves in the real world.

Technical Proficiencies

• Nuke Mastery: Deep knowledge of the Nuke node graph, including Gizmos, Python scripts for workflow efficiency, and advanced keying techniques (IBK, Primatte, Keylight).

• The Maya Advantage: While your primary home is Nuke, experience with Maya is a massive asset. Being able to open a Maya scene to check a camera or export a specific pass makes you a more versatile and independent artist.

• Tracking Software: Familiarity with Mocha Pro or Syntheyes for advanced tracking needs is highly regarded.

Soft Skills & Professionalism

• Attention to Detail: You are “meticulous” by nature. You catch the jitter, the edge-fringe, and the color-space mismatch before anyone else does.
• Problem Solving: You don’t just report problems; you find workarounds. You are proactive in troubleshooting your own scripts.
• Communication: You can articulate technical challenges to non-technical stakeholders and contribute positively to a team environment.

Residency & Location Requirements

Baked Studios New York is a hub for the Tri-State area’s top talent. Due to specific project security protocols and regional tax incentive requirements, we are only accepting applicants who are currently based in New York, New Jersey, or the surrounding Tri-State area. This role may involve a hybrid workflow, but proximity to the NYC studio is a hard requirement for this position.

What It’s Like to Work at Baked

Baked Studios isn’t a “factory” studio. We value the individual artist. When you join our New York office, you’re joining a group that prizes technical innovation and artistic integrity. We offer:

• High-Profile Projects: The chance to work on some of the most talked-about series and films in the industry.
• State-of-the-Art Pipeline: Access to the latest tools and a pipeline designed by artists, for artists.
• Professional Growth: A culture that encourages learning, where Mid-Level artists are given the runway to grow into Lead and Supervisory roles.

How to Apply

If you are a Nuke Artist who takes pride in every pixel and thrives in a collaborative, high-end environment, we want to hear from you. Please submit your resume, a link to your portfolio/reel, and a brief breakdown of your best shots highlighting your 2.5D and 3D integration work.