Lighting TD - Lead

ABOUT IMAGE ENGINE

Image Engine is a world-class VFX studio based in Vancouver, BC, that has built a reputation for excellence in the visual effects industry since 1995. We specialize in crafting stunning visual effects for feature films and television with an award-winning portfolio that includes The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Game Of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, and District 9.

We offer a full range of visual effects services, from concept designs and pre-visualization to CG animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects. Our crew is passionate about storytelling and pushing the artistic and technical boundaries to deliver the highest quality work on every project. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation and we're committed to continually evolving our robust production pipelines.

At Image Engine, we value diversity and teamwork, and we're proud to foster a workplace culture that is supportive, respectful, and empowering. We believe that our success is a reflection of our exceptionally talented team, and we're always looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join us on our mission to create unforgettable visual experiences. Join our team and be part of something extraordinary.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Lead Lighting TD plays a very important role in the quality control and leadership of the Lighting team. They set the positive tone of the team by exhibiting and encouraging constructive behavior. The Lead is responsible for communicating internal and client notes/feedback to artists in a straightforward manner. They will provide leadership, training, guidance, and support to the rest of the Lighting team while still handling most of the hero work on active shows to ensure all deadlines are met. Also, the Lead may sometimes need to assess Lighting tasks and delegate those tasks to the team. They will maintain clarity and focus during peak periods to ensure show delivery.

The Lead will also contribute to the overall operation and improvement of the Lighting team by setting and maintaining department standards. This will include, but will not be limited to engaging in cross-department communication, flagging/providing solutions to critical issues, documentation, taking part in interviews and participating in the buddy system for new employees. They will also review all shots and ensure minimum quality levels before submitting to the Lighting or VFX Supervisor. In addition, the Lead will develop new processes and stay up to date on innovative technologies to keep the Lighting team on the cutting edge.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with the Lighting Supervisor, the VFX Supervisor and CG Supervisors and working alongside the Comp Supervisors for daily creative counseling as well as internal and client notes guidance.
• Working with the Lighting Supervisor, implementing best creative and technical practices, task and target priorities, crewing and bidding, as well as technical innovations implementation and instructions, all with the intent to support the Lighting team and the Compositing Leads in delivering the project's vision and targets at the highest quality, within show Production's expectations and schedule.
• Working with the Lighting Supervisor, interfacing with the Lighting HOD, developers and/or other departments’ Leads to prioritize best practices, promote interdepartmental collaboration, fair artist and render farm resource use, clear lines of communication with the Lighting team, inventory quality and related optimization and efficiencies.
• Working with the Lighting Supervisor, running regular daily creative rounds with the Lighting team and lighting coordinators to achieve the expected vision and quality for the project.
• Reviewing lighting dailies to ensure quality control, continuity and aesthetic consistency.
• Partnering with the Lighting Supervisor and Production Management, the Lighting HOD and DPM to coordinate and assess crew size, lighting tasks as well as delegating those tasks to the lighting team.
• Supporting the Lighting team with lighting pipeline and tools implementation and adoption, workflow documentation and best practices, troubleshooting, optimization and efficiency efforts, targets priorities and continuity, keyshots and lighting pipeline implementations, with the aim of efficiently delivering weekly targets.
• Regularly working alongside the project’s lighting coordinators to program and achieve weekly tasks and sensible work distribution, delegating shots and tasks to artists.
• Providing feedback on artists’ performance to the Lighting HOD and DPM and show team.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Have 5+ years’ experience in digital lighting for live action films, series or commercials
• Possess excellent team oriented leadership, time management, mentoring and communication skills
• Have proven experience of leading teams (6+ people) on large projects as a valued bonus
• Have relevant understanding of color theory, composition, lighting, aesthetics, photography and film and how these apply to lighting and rendering in 3D
• Have strong understanding of a linear color-space workflows
• Have an effective and practical knowledge of procedural based lighting workflows
• Have practical proficiency in tool development through Python and/or other high end programming languages
• Have excellent attention to detail when finalizing, approving and/or quality controlling shots
• Have the ability to balance quick turnaround while achieving a high degree of aesthetic quality
• Have effective and practical aptitude for technical workflow implementations and challenges such as directory structure, file formats, naming conventions, scripts, automation tools, automated dailies, database dependencies, etc.
• Be confident in troubleshooting, pipeline implementations as well as dealing with technical innovations
• Be able to create, propose and support multiple types of Lighting scenarios
• Possess Look Development and/or Shading/Surfacing experience as a bonus

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

• A reliable understanding of best practices when producing large amount of renders
• Ability to train and coach artists in lighting techniques and best practice
• Expert Knowledge of a physically plausible renderer like Arnold
• Strong aptitude for technical workflow challenges such as directory structure, file formats, naming conventions, scripts, automation tools, automated dailies, database dependencies, etc.
• Strong knowledge of lighting workflow and lighting application best practices
• Senior level experience in Python scripting

Core skills

• Ability to help with bidding; determine the timeframe and scope required for each project
• Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities and projects
• Ability to create multiple types of Lighting scenarios
• Capable of managing a team of artists; setting expectations, and managing their time
• Ability to assess artist’s strengths and weaknesses to assign tasks and manage workflow
• Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications
• Ability to teach new techniques and apply new approaches to push lighting to the next level
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• Ability to remain calm during peak production periods and maintain the morale of the lighting team