Sr Groom Artist

General Summary
The Sr Groom Artist is responsible for the creation, delivery, and maintenance of high-level hair, fur, feathers, and other forms of grooming for digital characters and environments within LAIKA’s VFX department. This position works closely with Asset Leads and Asset Supervisor to provide technical and aesthetic assistance with expertise to achieve the desired result. 

Job Functions 

• Create, maintain, improve, and support fur, hair, feather, and environment grooms through VFX production utilizing Houdini and proprietary tools. 
• Create and maintain Houdini templates and toolsets/HDAs used in groom creation. 
• Assess references and reproduce assets with great attention to detail and efficiency. 
• Work closely with all disciplines within the Asset department to troubleshoot creative and technical issues. 
• Interact with the VFX and Rigging department to maintain and create proper workflows to achieve dynamic results within the asset debrief. 
• Perform basic modeling, texturing, look dev, and rendering tasks for groom development as needed. 
• Communicate effectively with Production, Asset Leads and the Asset Supervisor to consistently produce high-quality work while meeting deadlines.  
• Assist Asset Leads with mentoring, training, and developing team members within the VFX department.

Qualifications 

• 10+ years of CG/Visual Effects grooming experience on theatrically released films. 
• Strong knowledge of grooming in Maya and Houdini.  
• Strong understanding of VEX is preferred. 
• Experience building a wide variety of grooms (fur, hair, feather, environment grooms, etc.). 
• Strong knowledge of procedural workflows in Houdini that goes beyond the grooming tools.
• Knowledge of Houdini, USD, Katana, Renderman, Mari, Zbrush, Karma, and Solaris.
• Background in visual arts/design with a strong understanding of form and movement, preferred.
• Proficiency working in a Linux environment.
• Extra asset skills such as modeling, texturing, look dev, a plus.
• Experience with python, a plus.
• Great organizational skills.
• Able to learn and adapt to challenges. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.  

Location 
On-site in Hillsboro, OR 
Salary 
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience. 

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

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