Senior Effects Technical Director

The Walt Disney Company

Sr Effects Technical Director creating FX animation and simulations for feature films at ILM. Collaborating with supervisors on complex shots and effects to achieve high-quality results

Posted 6/12/2026full-timeRemote • Oregon • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $132,300 - $169,300 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxPython

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Generates FX animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, particle and fluid systems for feature film visual effects.
Responsible for lighting, rendering and moderate-level compositing of complex shots with guidance from their supervisors.
Designs and creates FX animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, particle and fluid systems
Light complex/multiple creatures (hairy or furry creatures) and elements
Responsible for setting-up and wrangle heavy particle effects and enormous crowd shots
Excellent pipeline scripting ability
Solid compositing ability, can wrangle blue-screen extractions, working understanding of Nuke
Can write plug-ins, debug simulations and write set up and surface shaders with proficiency
Can write/hack procedural surface shaders and volumetric shaders with proficiency
Can animate moderate objects with proficiency
Can pick-up new techniques quickly and easily and can debug just about anything
Sets a standard for all Technical Directors in continually raising the bar for speed, quality of work and adaptability.

Requirements

What you’ll need

3-5+ years production experience or feature film experience with effects simulation work
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or computer graphics
Demo reel required
Ability to work with competency, energy and enthusiasm within a team environment with gentle supervision to complete a shot.
Exhibits excellent listening and communication skills, able to receive direction and criticism
Excellent presentation/communication skills in dailies/shot review by clearly and briefly outlining what has been accomplished and what next should be addressed in the shot
Engages in the creative process without ego, and accepts all final decisions with a positive and supportive attitude.
Demonstrates an excellent aesthetic eye, anticipating potential problems and using knowledge of how to use the tools to achieve the desired look.
Demonstrates superb problem-solving skills and takes the initiative to offer ideas and suggestions.
Prioritizes tasks and manages time very well
Advanced simulation experience with either Houdini, Maya, 3DS Max or other software, and the ability to write expressions
C++ skills
Nice to have: Linux and scripting ability in Python experience in MEL.

Benefits

Comp & perks

A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package,
full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

FX animationprocedural simulationdynamic simulationparticle systemsfluid systemslightingrenderingcompositingC++scripting

Soft Skills

teamworkcommunicationproblem-solvingtime managementadaptabilitycreativitylisteningpresentation skillsinitiativepositive attitude

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in computer scienceBachelor's degree in engineeringBachelor's degree in computer graphics