We are seeking a Production Innovation Technologist with deep expertise in advanced 3D compositing and applied emerging and generative technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as a recognized expert in advanced compositing and hybrid CG/ML workflows, delivering high‑quality, shot‑ready work that meets or exceeds studio standards.
- Act as a technical authority and advisor to creative leadership, production, and engineering partners on complex, high‑risk shots and workflows.
- Lead the technical strategy for applying emerging and generative technologies to production needs, focusing on reliability, repeatability, and artistic control rather than exploratory output alone.
- Design, train, fine‑tune, and adapt models using techniques such as LoRA, IP adapters, Gaussian Splatting, and custom PyTorch pipelines to solve production‑scale challenges.
- Evaluate new ML and generative approaches, identifying failure modes, constraints, and opportunities, and translating findings into actionable production guidance.
- Combine machine learning techniques with traditional compositing and CG methods to improve iteration speed, consistency, and visual fidelity at scale.
- Architect and implement end‑to‑end workflows that integrate emerging technology outputs into established pipelines (modeling, texturing, layout, lighting, compositing).
- Own workflow reliability, scalability, and performance, proactively identifying bottlenecks and driving continuous improvement based on production feedback.
- Partner with Senior Technology Workflow TDs to transition successful prototypes into fully supported production‑integrated tools and pipelines.
- Collaborate closely with Machine Learning Engineers, translating research prototypes into artist‑usable, production‑ready systems.
- Provide clear, structured, and prioritized feedback to development teams on usability, limitations, and readiness for deployment.
- Influence technical and creative direction across multiple projects, often working directly with senior leaders on high‑impact initiatives.
- Create, modify, and render complex 3D elements as required to support compositing using Maya, Blender, and/or Unreal Engine.
- Ensure outputs meet the highest standards for visual quality, continuity, and integration within live‑action and CG environments.
- Set and model best practices for organization, naming, versioning, documentation, and handoff.
- Mentor senior and mid‑level artists and technologists through technical guidance and knowledge sharing, without formal supervisory responsibility.
- Contribute to internal standards, documentation, and technical reviews that raise overall capability across the function.
Required Qualifications:
- 7+ years of experience in compositing supervision or senior‑level compositing roles on visually complex feature films or equivalent high‑end productions.
- Expert‑level knowledge of advanced compositing workflows and strong artistic judgment in high‑pressure production environments.
- Deep practical understanding of neural networks and generative systems, including how prompting, conditioning, and model architecture impact consistency, fidelity, and failure modes.
- Advanced Python proficiency for scripting, automation, workflow orchestration, and tool development.
- Demonstrated success applying emerging and generative technologies directly within production pipelines, not solely in R&D contexts.
- Proven ability to create and integrate 3D elements for shot work using Maya, Blender, and/or Unreal Engine.
- Significant experience with ComfyUI, including complex graph design, extensions, and custom node development.
- Ability to work independently with minimal guidance, while influencing broader technical and creative strategy across projects.
