Studio: Taylor James
Job Opening: CGI/Real-Time Technical Director
Location: London, UK/ Remote
Type: Full-Time
Responsibilities:
- Planning and delivery of a Real-Time Experience, working to the agreed upon brief and the client’s requirements producing real-time online configurators using Unreal Engine, ensuring that the final project is delivered on-time, on-budget and on-brand.
- Develop project workflow plan in-line with experience requirements. The role requires the ability to foresee potential problems within multi-disciplined workflows and the ability to solve visual and analytical problems.
- Provide advanced 3D software scripting support, specifically for the CGI Real-Time team – this can include real-time software, plug-ins, scripts as well as other third-party technologies using multiple programming languages
- Take ownership and maintain any software, scripts developed and their corresponding source code repositories and documentation, providing training to artists where necessary
- Liaise with the Creative & Pipeline Teams to ensure best working practices are adhered to and any development is for the benefit of the entire studio
- Keep up-to-date on new research and industry developments, and maintain knowledge in relevant fields and contribute regularly to the Automotive + Future Technology Team collective learning within the team environment
- Always work within the IT/systems procedures for development, adhering to our ISO procedures
- Ensure documentation, operation manuals and policies are kept up to date
- Proactively seek to understand how to produce stills and animations to keep up to date on the artists needs and future development requirements to enhance and make our resource more efficient
- Work closely within the virtual production and VR teams to develop and maintain lightweight clients and optimized modules covering AI, custom shader support, customs effects, hardware device input, network server/clients and game play mechanics to support feature film production pipelines (using game engine for visualization) and virtual reality experiences.
- Application of experience and knowledge to optimize game engine deployment for virtual reality in terms of memory, frame rate and performance.
- Help develop new and exciting game play and experience mechanics for new virtual reality projects.
- Develop and maintain optimized modules for tools surrounding virtual production that utilize game engines along with UI and I/O modules.
- Design and develop core tools into the pipeline.
- Work with virtual production and virtual reality team to understand technical requirements.
- Active participation in technical and artistic discussions and problem solving.
- Work closely with Head of CG & Head of Pipeline, as well as other development team members to further develop pipeline and workflows.
- Set-up automation tools, advanced pipeline tools, and scripts to increase efficiency and optimization of Real-Time Experiences, Stills and Animations, including modelling, texturing, shading and lighting, and rendering to a high photorealistic level.
- Identify new software and hardware that could be of use to the company in delivering compelling real-time content
- Be able to work with and lead other Real-Time Developers on collaborative projects
- Liaise with Epic Games (the creators of Unreal Engine) on a regular basis to aid in the development of the high visual quality we want to achieve
- Consistently share knowledge at team meetings and share work you have created to participate in the continual development of the CGI Studio and gain valuable feedback
- Proactively develop your own technical skills and understanding, to contribute towards the overall efficiency and innovation of the CGI Studio, and develop our offering to clients
- The role may include the opportunity to work at one of Taylor James’s other studios to promote and further the expansion of our process and portfolio across the group.
- You may be asked to work on other types of projects beside Automotive + Future Technologies from time to time, in accordance with your skillset.
- Work with various departments to hone workflow and support their needs, which may range from technical advice all the way to new, long-term software development projects.
- Take ownership of, maintain, and extend the in-house toolset for 3ds Max (primarily written in MaxScript, some Python), which includes a node-based scene management tool used on all 3dsMax projects.
- Manage and oversee (alongside I.T.) our Thinkbox Deadline based network render farm; submission mechanisms and render wrangling workflows used primarily by 3ds Max (V-Ray), and Nuke.
- Maintaining the customised aspects of the Deadline render farm, most prominently customised submitters and events.
- Assist artists in troubleshooting the underlying cause of render or DCC scene performance problems both locally and when rendering on the farm.
- Provide custom ad-hoc solutions to alleviate production pressure points in CG and Compositing.
- Contribute to the studio-wide libraries and cross-DCC applications written in Python (often using Qt), working closely with the Head of Pipeline to ensure a seamless integration.
- Contribute to tools development in support of real-time creative solutions built atop Unreal Engine
- All code is expected to be written in a reader-friendly, collaborative manner, adhering to in-house style guides, and using git to maintain control over versioning and updates.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Professional experience (3 years +) programming in MaxScript and Python (MEL a plus).
- In depth production knowledge of 3dsmax and VRay.
- A full understanding of the entire CG pipeline, from previz to final delivery.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to tailor your style to both technical and non-technical members of staff.
- Familiarity with principles of object-oriented programming.
- Professional experience (3+ years) in 3D engine development experience within the games industry and with at least one AAA game shipped on PC or console.
- Professional experience (3+ years) developing optimized modules in C#/C++ within Unreal Engine and/or Unity.
- VR development experience advantageous
- Solid understanding of real-time engine script and tool development
- Solid understanding of a CGI/Animation/Games pipeline
- Experience using UE, Unity, 3DS Max, Maya or similar
- Pragmatic approach to solving complex programming/production issues
- Solid understanding of max script and tool development
- Experience troubleshooting 2D,3D, CGI based software
- Scripting Languages; Python, MAX Script, MELScript, 3D software scripting
- Experience of other scripting languages –TCL, vb Script, JavaScript, c++, c#, cmd line
- Experience with web GL
- Experience in a multimedia / digital agency environment
- Sound understanding of industry-standard programming techniques
- Solid understanding of a shotgun/pipeline development
- UE4 blueprints
- Ability to demonstrate ownership of running projects/part projects on-time, on-brief, and on-budget
- Ability to demonstrate experience with Unreal Engine on relevant projects and a firm understanding of Blueprint in UE
- Strong experience solving problems and resolving issues
- Keen interest in Automotive, Product, &/or Architectural Experience Development
- Experience mentoring or assisting Junior Developers
- Solid understanding of CGI pipelines, producing final assets and a proven ability to help build or expand current pipelines
- Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree or diploma in Computing Science, or related 2D/3D discipline
Apply for the Job Online: To apply, send your resume to Ross.DelConte@taylorjames.com