Senior Effects Technical Director – Expression of Interest – ILM Vancouver

Job Position(s): Senior Effects Technical Director - Expression of Interest - ILM Vancouver

ILM Vancouver, under Disney, is accepting expressions of interest for a Senior Effects Technical Director to join their feature film VFX pipeline. This role sits within the effects department and focuses on generating FX animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, and particle and fluid systems for complex visual effects shots. It suits an experienced effects artist who works independently on shot-level work and is comfortable owning elements from simulation through to lighting, rendering, and compositing handoff.

About the Role

The Senior Effects Technical Director works within ILM’s established production pipeline on feature film projects, taking complex shots from brief through to deliverable elements. Day-to-day work involves running simulations in Houdini or Maya, presenting shot progress in dailies, and coordinating handoffs to comp and rendering teams. This is a hybrid position based in Vancouver, BC, with 2 to 3 days onsite at the studio each week.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build FX animation, procedural and dynamic simulations, and particle and fluid systems for feature film VFX shots.
• Light complex and multi-element shots, communicating shot status clearly to VFX supervisors and production coordinators.
• Provide accurate time estimates for shot work and flag risks to production scheduling before they become problems.
• Hand off completed elements to compositing and rendering departments with clean, well-organised data.
• Present work in dailies and attend department meetings as a senior voice in the effects team.
• Mentor junior effects artists on simulation techniques, pipeline standards, and shot methodology.

What You Bring

• At least 5 years of professional VFX experience with a college diploma in computer graphics, fine arts, design, photography, or a related field, or 7 years of professional VFX experience without a degree.
• Advanced simulation experience in Houdini, Maya, or 3DS Max, including the ability to write expressions.
• Linux proficiency and scripting ability in Python within a production pipeline environment.
• A strong aesthetic eye and working understanding of the physics behind simulation systems.
• A demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showreel is required as part of the application.

Why This Role

ILM is one of the most recognised names in feature film visual effects, with a Vancouver studio that has contributed to major productions across Disney’s slate. The hiring range for this Senior Effects Technical Director position in Vancouver is C$126,700 to C$154,600 per year, based on a 40-hour work week, with a full range of medical, financial, and variable pay or benefits available depending on level and position. This is an expression of interest posting, not a currently open role, but submitting now puts you in consideration when the position becomes active.

Submit your expression of interest for the Senior Effects Technical Director role at ILM Vancouver today by applying through Disney’s careers portal with your resume and demo reel.