Environment Surfacing Artist – Netflix Animation Studios

Job Position(s): Environment Surfacing Artist - Netflix Animation Studios

Netflix is hiring an Environment Surfacing Artist at its Animation Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. This role sits within the surfacing department on upcoming CG feature films, with primary responsibility for texturing, shading, and procedural instancing of sets, props, and vegetation assets. It is a strong fit for a mid-to-senior surfacing artist with a background in animated features or high-end VFX production who wants to build worlds from the ground up.

About the Role

The surfacing department at Netflix Animation Studios feeds directly into look development and lighting on CG feature film productions, meaning the quality of your output shapes how entire environments read on screen. Day to day, you will move between texture painting in Mari, shader creation in Maya, and procedural instancing workflows, interpreting 2D concept designs and translating them into production-ready assets. You will work closely with surfacing leadership and production coordinators to hit deadlines while maintaining a consistent visual style across the project.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop stylized and physically plausible shaders for environment assets, adhering strictly to department standards and the established look of the production.
• Create high-quality textures using both hand-painted and procedural methods in Mari, working to the level of detail required for feature film pipeline delivery.
• Handle UV layout, procedural texturing, and vegetation instancing across sets and props within the CG feature film production workflow.
• Interpret 2D design reference and artistic direction, translating them into surfaced assets while preserving the original intent of the concept art.
• Maintain consistent style across the project by collaborating with surfacing leadership and contributing to department conventions and look guides.
• Manage your own workload across multiple assets, communicating proactively with production when schedules or priorities shift.

What You Bring

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in shading, surfacing, and texturing within an animation studio, VFX pipeline, or high-end episodic environment.
• Proficiency in Mari and Maya as core production tools.
• Credits on animated features, feature film VFX, or high-end episodic television productions.
• A solid understanding of lighting and colour theory as it applies to look development in CG feature film production.
• Experience with Houdini for procedural instancing workflows or Substance 3D Painter and Designer is a bonus.

Why This Role

Netflix Animation Studios is building a feature film slate across three global studio locations, and the Vancouver hub is actively staffing productions, making this a ground-floor opportunity on a growing slate rather than a contract fill. The overall market range for this role is typically $75,000 to $147,000 CAD, reflecting total compensation with no bonus structure. This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of three days per week in the Vancouver office, with a benefits package covering medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and family-forming benefits.

Apply now for the Environment Surfacing Artist position at Netflix Animation Studios and bring your look development experience to feature film production in Vancouver.