Senior Layout Artist - Temp (SFD / Cinematics)
About The Position
Blizzard Entertainment is seeking an experienced 3D generalist to join its cinematics layout department as a Senior Layout Artist. The layout department facilitates the flow of assets from modeling, surfacing, and rigging, and assembles and helps compose shots from previz through animation, simulation, and FX to lighting and compositing. The artist works with previz, modeling, and rigging to translate rough scenes into production-ready shots; supports animation and camera with environments, continuity, and troubleshooting; and coordinates with modeling, animation, and FX on set creation and shot-by-shot set dressing. Broad technical and artistic understanding of 3D pipelines, shot composition, and film language is important. The role is anticipated to be hybrid, with some work on-site and some work from home. The potential home studio is Irvine, California, though other arrangements, including remote work, may be explored. This is roughly a four-month temporary position with a mid-January 2027 start date.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of production or feature-film experience in a layout or 3D generalist role.
- Skill and experience building and dressing sets and environments and composing shots for production.
- Depth of knowledge in 3D pipelines, both technically and artistically.
- Solid understanding of storytelling, film, and composition principles.
- Skills in modeling, rigging, animation, and cameras.
- Some knowledge of surfacing, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
- Familiarity with scripting, especially within a 3D environment.
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to learn and work independently and creatively with diverse personalities under resource- and time-limited conditions.
Nice To Haves
- Extensive experience with Maya or Houdini.
- Knowledge and experience with Unreal or other game engines.
- Experience with RenderMan and/or Redshift renderers.
- Proficiency in Python scripting.
- Familiarity with USD.
- Expert written and oral organization and communication skills.
- A thirst for learning and a knack for efficiency.
- A passion for Blizzard games, stories, characters, and worlds.
Responsibilities
- Use Maya to translate and help compose previz into shot assemblies, and deliver scenes ready for animation.
- Create, add, or adjust set dressing, static character poses, and crowd cycles in service of final shot composition.
- Support animation and other departments at various stages, managing shot configurations and preview rendering for quality review.
- Organize assets, fill gaps, and identify and solve technical and artistic problems not handled by other departments or typical pipeline procedures.
- Work with programmers, artists, supervisors, directors, and production staff across multiple projects and pipelines to develop, fix, or improve tools and processes, and facilitate productive communication and efficient workflows.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, and dependent care spending accounts.
- Life and AD&D insurance and disability insurance.
- 401(k) with Company match.
- Tuition reimbursement and charitable donation matching.
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, and parental leave.
- Mental health and wellbeing programs and fitness programs.
- Free and discounted games and other voluntary benefit programs, including supplemental life and disability coverage, legal service, ID protection, and rental insurance.
- Relocation assistance may be available if the Company requires a geographic move for the job.
- Employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation; it is not guaranteed.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
