Lead FX Technical Director – The Yard VFX
About Us
The Yard VFX is a digital visual effects studio specializing in feature films and episodic streaming content, with offices in Paris and Montpellier. From creative consulting and supervision to 3D asset creation and integration, the studio collaborates with major national and international clients, including MARVEL, DISNEY, NETFLIX, PATHÉ, and AMAZON MGM STUDIOS.
As part of its continued growth and transformation, The Yard VFX is expanding its teams to support large-scale international productions. Surrounded by passionate professionals and immersed in a dynamic creative environment, we are looking for a Lead FX Technical Director.
Job Description
At the project level, the FX Lead is responsible for ensuring that the studio’s quality, presentation, and workflow standards, as established by the FX HOD and FX Supervisors, are properly implemented and maintained.
You will play a key role in the creation of visual effects assets for the projects assigned to you.
Your expertise in dynamic and procedural simulations, the development of complex setups, tools/OTLs/HDAs, scripting (VEX & Python), and troubleshooting, combined with your experience leading teams, will be essential to the successful delivery of our productions.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish project-specific tools and workflows in accordance with studio standards, in close collaboration with the FX Supervisors, FX HOD, Leads, and CG Supervisor;
- Break down shots and identify key shots for each sequence within the project;
- Define, organize, and assign FX tasks to the team;
- Conduct reviews and provide feedback on the work produced by the FX team;
- Monitor project schedules regularly in collaboration with the Line Producer;
- Support the professional development and skill growth of FX artists assigned to the project;
- Ensure simulations are optimized in terms of both computation time and data management to meet project requirements;
- Work closely with the Look Development Supervisor to ensure that FX data delivered to Lighting meets required standards;
- Collaborate with the CG Supervisor to ensure successful project delivery by the FX department.
Required Skills
- Advanced proficiency in Houdini;
- Extensive experience with simulations of natural phenomena, particle systems, fluids and volumetrics, hard and soft body dynamics, procedural modeling, and procedural animation;
- Strong expertise in handling and optimizing large-scale data generation;
- Excellent organizational and planning skills;
- Strong communication skills in both French and English, written and spoken;
- Ability to motivate and lead a team;
- Ability to delegate effectively and escalate issues when necessary;
- Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
Requirements
- Previous experience as a Lead (sequence or project level) on at least one CGI production;
- Participation in at least five VFX projects within an FX department.