Technical Director Jobs at Industrial Light & Magic, Canada
As a Senior Effects Technical Director at Industrial Light & Magic in Vancouver, you will independently design and execute complex, photorealistic visual effects—including particle systems, fluid dynamics, and rigid body destructions—for major feature films. Operating within a flexible hybrid work structure (2–3 days onsite per week). This role requires a deep technical and artistic mastery of software like Houdini or Maya, fluency in Linux and Python scripting, and the capability to guide shots through lighting, rendering, and mid-level compositing. Beyond your individual technical contributions, you will collaborate closely with supervisors across the pipeline, provide accurate production estimates, and actively mentor junior artists. Candidates must offer a strong demo reel with a shot breakdown alongside 5+ years of industry experience with a degree, or 7+ years without one, for a position that offers a base salary range of C$126,700 to C$154,600 per year. Senior Technical Director Job Overview Metric / Parameter Position Details & Specifics Company Name Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Vancouver Inc. (Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) Official Job Title Senior Effects Technical Director (Senior FX TD) Employment Type Full-Time Work Architecture Hybrid (2–3 days per week onsite at the Vancouver studio, with remaining days remote) Primary Location Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Compensation Range C$126,700 to C$154,600 per year (Base salary based on a standard 40-hour work week) Overtime & Schedule Scheduled weekly hours may vary based on active production milestones and business demands Core Software Requirements Houdini, Maya, 3DS Max, Linux OS, and Python Scripting Minimum Experience 5 years with a relevant CG/Fine Arts degree OR 7 years of professional experience in lieu of a degree Required Assets Current Professional Resume, Demo Reel, and Comprehensive Shot Breakdown Core Responsibilities and Daily Workflows As a Senior Effects Technical Director at ILM, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy, serving as both a technical powerhouse and a creative problem solver on major feature films. Your daily responsibilities will span across multiple areas of the production pipeline, from initial look-development to final shot delivery. 1. Advanced FX Generation & Simulation Your primary technical objective is to design, develop, and execute complex, high-fidelity visual effects elements. This includes, but is not limited to: 2. Shot Completion: Lighting, Rendering, & Compositing Unlike pure simulation roles, a Senior Effects Technical Director (Senior FX TD) at ILM is expected to carry their work further down the pipeline. Under the guidance of VFX Supervisors and Sequence Leads, you will: 3. Pipeline Integration & Cross-Department Collaboration High-end visual effects are an interdisciplinary team sport. You will be responsible for: 4. Leadership, Mentorship, & Specialized Projects As a senior member of the crew, your responsibilities extend beyond individual shot creation: Candidate Qualifications and Technical Requirements Industrial Light & Magic is searching for a Senior Effects Technical Director who possesses an exceptional blend of creative intuition and rigorous technical aptitude. To be successful at ILM, candidates must meet the following criteria: Experience & Education Matrix To balance diverse career paths, ILM accepts either of the following paths for this senior-level role: Technical Skill Set & Software Proficiency Soft Skills & Artistic Excellence Compensation, Benefits, and Corporate Culture Holistic Compensation Strategy Industrial Light & Magic strives to offer a highly competitive total rewards package. The established base salary band for this Vancouver-based role is C$126,700 to C$154,600 annually. The precise salary offer will be meticulously calibrated to reflect internal equity across our global teams, alongside the specific candidate’s geographic stability, specialized technical skill set, and years of top-tier feature film experience. Depending on the final level of the position offered, a robust suite of medical, dental, vision, financial savings, and variable incentive plans may be integrated into the final employment contract. The Hybrid Work Advantage This role leverages a flexible hybrid model, meticulously designed to offer the best of both worlds. Employees spend 2–3 days a week onsite at our state-of-the-art Vancouver facility. This setup preserves face-to-face creative collaboration, hands-on mentorship, and spontaneous team synergy, while allowing for remote work on the remaining days of the week to promote a healthy work-life balance. Legacy and Belonging By joining ILM, you become part of an enduring legacy of cinematic innovation. As a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, our employees belong to a massive, diverse international media ecosystem spanning Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. We operate in over 40 countries, united by a singular mission: to create world-class stories and experiences that resonate across generations and cultures. Technical Director Jobs at Industrial Light & Magic, Canada Apply now See open roles Explore More Technical Director Jobs
