Crowd TD – Directeur technique crowd 2 Locations

Job Position(s): Crowd TD - Directeur technique crowd 2 Locations

DNEG is hiring a Crowd TD across two studio locations, Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, Canada. This role sits within the Performance department, spanning Animation, Creature, and FX, where the Crowd TD is responsible for building and managing large-scale crowd simulations that feed directly into final VFX shots for feature film and episodic television productions. It suits a technical director who is comfortable bridging simulation systems with animation pipelines and has a track record of delivering believable crowd work at scale.

About the Role

The Crowd TD at DNEG works within a department that handles some of the most technically complex character work in the VFX pipeline, from creature rigs to large population simulations. Day to day, this person is setting up crowd systems, working closely with FX and animation supervisors to hit creative targets on active productions, and troubleshooting simulation issues before they reach comp. The role spans both pre-production crowd planning and shot-level crowd work through to final delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain crowd simulations using industry-standard crowd simulation software, ensuring agent behaviour reads convincingly at the shot level.
• Develop and refine crowd rigs, motion libraries, and shader setups that meet the technical and creative requirements of each production.
• Work directly with animation and FX supervisors to integrate crowd elements within the broader VFX pipeline without introducing downstream issues.
• Troubleshoot simulation instability, performance bottlenecks, and render inefficiencies as productions move from blocking through to final frames.
• Write and maintain pipeline scripts and tools that support crowd workflows across both the Montreal and Vancouver studio teams.
• Participate in production reviews and provide accurate timeline estimates for crowd shot complexity and turnaround.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated experience as a Crowd TD on feature film or high-end episodic television productions with shipped credits.
• Proficiency in Houdini, Golaem, or Massive, with a solid understanding of how crowd systems interact with FX and character animation pipelines.
• Strong Python or scripting skills for pipeline integration and tool development within a studio environment.
• Familiarity with renderers such as Arnold or Renderman in the context of large crowd scene optimisation.
• Ability to work across two studio locations and adapt to production schedules that shift across time zones.

Why This Role

DNEG has a consistent presence on major studio feature film productions and streaming series, which means the Crowd TD in this position will work across a varied and high-profile slate rather than cycling through a single client. The studio has established pipelines in both Montreal and Vancouver, giving a technical director genuine options around location while working within the same production structure. The scale and variety of crowd work available here is uncommon at most facilities.

Apply now for the Crowd TD position at DNEG and take the next step in your VFX career.