Location
Chancery Lane, London, United Kingdom

Hours
Hybrid working arrangement

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
The multi-Oscar-winning creative Film & Episodic Studio at Framestore collaborates with some of the greatest storytellers in film today. We work closely with directors and producers throughout the filmmaking process to design, plan, and create stunning visual effects, combining talent and technology to bring stories to life. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

As a Crowd Technical Director at Framestore, you will bring large-scale scenes to life by simulating and animating tens of thousands of characters for high-end visual effects films. Working closely with Supervisors and department Leads, you will craft dynamic motion and behaviour of digital crowds that populate the worlds of our most ambitious projects.

You will use both proprietary and off-the-shelf software to create visually rich simulations, balancing realism with artistry. Collaboration is key, as you will work hand-in-hand with teams across Modelling, Rigging, Animation, Motion Capture, and Lighting to deliver seamless crowd work that integrates perfectly into the final image.

This role offers an exciting opportunity for those who thrive on creative problem-solving and technical innovation, with the chance to contribute to the development of new tools and techniques that push the boundaries of visual effects.

Key responsibilities include:
- Creating and running crowd simulations as directed by the CG or VFX Supervisor
- Developing locomotion and motion behaviours to achieve varied and believable performances
- Supporting the development of new crowd tools and workflows
- Maintaining strong communication with Production and Leads to meet deadlines and quality standards

Experience
- Strong working knowledge of Houdini, particularly Houdini Crowds and Agent Definitions (Maya experience is a plus)
- Previous experience in a similar crowd or simulation role is desirable
- Programming or scripting experience (e.g. VEX, Python, C++) is advantageous
- Understanding of particle systems and procedural animation
- Experience developing tools, scripts, or plug-ins to streamline workflows
- Familiarity with motion capture data integration
- Experience working in Unix/Linux environments
- Familiarity with VFX pipelines and workflows across multiple software packages

About you
- Creative problem-solving skills with an understanding of both aesthetic and technical requirements
- Solid grasp of animation principles and an eye for motion
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and organisational skills
- Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Adaptability and willingness to learn new tools and processes

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are stated; however, relevant experience and skills in crowd simulation, animation, and technical direction are essential.