Crowd TD

At Stellar we aim to build a studio where people actually want to work. We face productions inevitable ups and downs as a supportive truly connected team prioritizing open communication over anyone working in isolation. We value honesty creativity and looking out for one another.

The Opportunity:

We are staffing up for a highly anticipated Marvel Studios streaming series. To pull off the epic scale required we need a brilliant systems minded Crowd Technical Director. This is a highly technical role. You are not here to animate the characters; you are here to build the tools workflows and pipeline that make the crowd artists look like rockstars.

If you love untangling complex technical problems writing elegant Python scripts and acting as the supportive bridge between the Asset FX and Animation departments we want you on our team. We need a proactive problem solver who spots pipeline bottlenecks from a mile away and builds solutions so the artists never have to stress.

In this role success looks like:

Pipeline and Tool Development

• Design build and maintain a highly efficient crowd pipeline utilizing Maya Houdini and Atoms.
• Proactively prototype and test shot pipelines identifying technical gaps or critical issues before they ever reach the artists.
• Write clean efficient code to develop tools and technical solutions that directly increase the creative capabilities of the crowd team.

Technical Support and Troubleshooting

• Act as the ultimate technical safety net for the artists. You troubleshoot and debug day to day production shot issues with patience empathy and a positive attitude.
• Take ownership of the complete crowd technical lifecycle ensuring everything integrates smoothly into specific downstream workflows like FX and LRC.
• Maintain a calm motivating presence during high stress delivery periods focusing on solutions rather than placing blame.

Collaboration and Mentorship

• Serve as the friendly knowledgeable liaison between the Asset and Shot departments translating creative needs into technical realities.
• Coach and train Layout Animation and FX team members on existing and newly developed crowd setup tools so everyone feels confident and supported using the pipeline.
• Partner with Dev and Digital Workflow supervisors to ensure all crowd systems are seamlessly integrated into the broader studio pipeline.

The Requirements

Must Haves:

• Experience: 3 plus years of experience developing crowd setups and pipeline tools in VFX feature films high end TV or animation.
• Technical Expertise: Expert level scripting skills in Python alongside a deep generalist knowledge of Maya.
• Crowd Systems: Hands on experience building digital assets with Atoms Crowd and a very strong understanding of global crowd workflows.
• Core Skills: You are an excellent problem solver who can focus on the tiny technical details while maintaining a view of the whole production picture.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills. You can explain complex technical concepts to artists in a way that is clear helpful and never condescending.
• Eligibility: You must be legally eligible to work in British Columbia.

Nice to Haves:

• Working knowledge of Houdini.
• A strong understanding of Linux based operating systems.
• A degree in Computer Graphics Computer Science or a related technical field.

Why Join Stellar

• Flexible Environment: We offer a flexible hybrid schedule that will vary with project and team requirements.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health benefits.
• Growth: Professional development support to help you stay ahead of tech and creative trends.
• Culture: A collaborative ego-free environment where technical expertise fuels creative magic.
• Compensation: The salary range for this position is between $93000 and $103000 CAD based on your level of experience.

At Stellar Creative Lab we believe diversity and inclusion are key to creativity and collaboration. Were committed to building a supportive open and diverse community where everyone can thrive. Were always looking for ways to improve accessibility so feel free to share any feedback or suggestions with us.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply though priority will be given to BC Residents Canadians and Canadian Permanent Residents.