Website Milk Visual Effects
Environment Artist Job Overview
- Company Name: Milk Visual Effects
- Job Title: Environment Artist
- Industry: Visual Effects (VFX) / Motion Pictures
- Location: Spain (Remote / Remote-Hybrid within the region)
- Employment Type: Freelance / Short-Term Contract
- Seniority Level: Professional / Mid-Senior
- Salary Range: Competitive (Commensurate with experience)
- Required Experience: Professional experience working within a Film or TV VFX production pipeline
- Core Software: Houdini, Nuke, Photoshop
Milk Visual Effects (Phantom Media Group) – Spain
Milk Visual Effects is an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Emmy Award-winning VFX studio founded by creatives and powered by the spirit of innovation. Since our inception in 2013, we have cultivated a global reputation for delivering visually ambitious sequences across high-end feature films and episodic projects. From the expansive world-building of The Witcher and Good Omens to the grounded realism of The Martian and the Oscar-winning technical precision of Ex Machina, Milk blends creative vision with technical excellence.
As part of the Phantom Media Group, we are expanding our agile, global team and are currently seeking a highly skilled Environment Artist based in Spain. This is an opportunity to contribute to a world-class pipeline where imagination has no limits and technical boundaries are meant to be pushed.
Role Overview
The Environment Artist is a critical technical and artistic role responsible for the creation of photoreal 3D environments and digital matte paintings (DMP). At Milk, our Environment Artists do not just “build assets”; they architect entire worlds. You will provide both artistic flair and technical ingenuity to ensure every shot aligns with the client’s creative vision and the high standards of the VFX Supervisor.
This role requires a unique hybrid of skills: the eye of a traditional painter, the logic of a procedural TD, and the technical savvy of a compositor. You will be tasked with developing complex procedural systems in Houdini while simultaneously handling 2.5D projection workflows and photoreal lighting. As this is a short-term freelance role, we are looking for an artist who can hit the ground running, integrate seamlessly into our standard pipeline, and deliver exceptional work within tight production schedules.
Key Responsibilities
1. Environmental World-Building
Create high-end, photoreal 3D environments and digital matte paintings that meet the narrative needs of major film and episodic projects.
Build and organize assets based on Milk’s standard pipeline, ensuring consistency across shot sequences.
Collaborate directly with the VFX Supervisor to develop the “look and feel” of specific sequences.
2. Procedural & Technical Development
Design and implement complex procedural systems and assets to support massive-scale 3D environments.
Utilize VEX and Python to automate environment tasks and solve technical bottlenecks.
Build intricate 2.5D projection systems in Nuke to support and elevate the digital matte painting process.
3. Lighting, Rendering & LookDev
Take ownership of lighting and rendering for assigned environment shots when required.
Ensure all environment work adheres to the project’s color pipeline and delivery specifications.
Partner with the Compositing and Lighting departments to ensure seamless integration of environment assets.
4. Workflow & Communication
Proactively identify the most efficient technical approaches to solve shot-specific challenges.
Publish progress updates regularly to the production team to ensure alignment with milestones and deadlines.
Address and implement creative notes from the VFX Supervisor with precision and speed.
Requirements & Technical Skills
The ideal candidate is a proactive team player who possesses a deep understanding of the entire VFX lifecycle.
Regional Requirement: Candidates must be based in Spain to be considered for this role.
Industry Experience: Proven professional experience working within a high-end film or television VFX pipeline.
Software Mastery: Demonstrable expertise in Houdini, Nuke, and Photoshop.
Procedural Proficiency: A strong portfolio showcasing the ability to build procedural assets and systems.
Programming/Scripting: Working knowledge of VEX (within Houdini) and Python is essential for tool manipulation and asset creation.
Technique: Advanced experience in Matte Painting and 2.5D projection workflows.
Generalist Skills: A strong understanding of lighting fundamentals and the global color pipeline.
Communication: Excellent time management skills and the ability to take direction effectively within a fast-paced environment.
Why Join Milk?
Milk is a studio founded by creatives, for creatives. We pride ourselves on an agile pipeline and a spirit of collaboration.
Award-Winning Legacy: Contribute to projects that follow in the footsteps of BAFTA and Oscar-winning work.
Diverse Perspectives: We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that diverse identities make our creative output stronger.
Global Collaboration: Work as part of a world-class team, even while based in Spain, utilizing a pipeline designed for modern, high-speed VFX delivery.
Application Process
Freelance applicants are preferred for this specific short-term engagement. To apply, please prepare the following:
Professional CV: Detailing your credits and roles on previous film/TV projects.
Showreel: A link to your latest work, specifically highlighting photoreal environments, procedural Houdini setups, and DMP/Projection examples.
Breakdown: A brief technical breakdown of your procedural assets or complex projection systems.
To apply for this job email your details to info@milk-vfx.com