Look Development & Lighting Lead

Fixed term contract

Wild Child Animation is expanding the senior team at our Animation studio in Stirling and is looking to hire an experienced Look Development Lead to work on a series of development projects over the next 3 to 4 months with the possibility of transitioning to a full-time permanent role.

This role requires a technically skilled lighting and shading lead with extensive experience working on children’s CG television and film projects. The studio is looking for open and engaging individuals who are not only good team leaders but also team players.  You will be required to work with various Heads of departments to ensure a consistent high level of quality and creativity.

Prior experience is a must, as is a knowledge of producing high quality stylised looks (shading, texturing and lighting) for characters as well as environments.  The candidate must have the ability to take creative input and critique.  A strong understanding of the technical aspects of lighting and rendering in order to maximise production efficiency is also a must.  In addition, a good understanding of the animation pipeline including design, pre-production, production through to lighting, rendering and compositing.

Candidates must be able to work from home initially and be able or willing to work onsite in Stirling should circumstances change.  In the event that you are not UK based, you should have relevant visas in place permitting this, if required, at time of application.

Responsibilities

• Work with concept artists and Creative Directors early in the design process
• Create efficient lighting setups for available render resources
• Strong aesthetic sensibilities with ability to develop highly stylised look
• Willingness to teach and mentor junior artists
• Taking 2D concept designs into 3D and interpreting form, volume and lighting (mood/atmosphere)
• Working with and leading a team of lighting and texture/shading artists
• Working with grooming artists to ensure smooth production of procedural fur/hair/groom through pipeline
• Working with the Head of CG to establish lighting and rendering pipeline
• Liaising with Production team to ensure deadlines and schedules are met
• Working with Creative Directors to meet creative and artistic brief with regard to look development, i.e. texturing and shading of characters and environments

Software Experience/Skills

As a character artists should have extensive experience with the following software and tools:

• Maya
• Redshift
• Unreal Engine
• Houdini
• Python
• Substance Painter and/or Quixel
• Shader writing ability a huge advantage

General

Over and above the required experience, Wild Child Animation is looking for senior artists who have strong communication skills who are also willing to share knowledge and skills.