Senior Lookdev Artist

Senior Lookdev Artist About the role This position centers on the realization of high-fidelity surface qualities for 3D assets within a demanding production environment. The successful candidate will own the look development process from initial concept to final frame, ensuring that every material meets the dual demands of artistic excellence and technical robustness. Success requires a blend of creative intuition and technical precision, translating abstract references into tangible, photorealistic surfaces. The role demands proactive collaboration across disciplines to maintain continuity and uphold the creative vision throughout every stage of production. Key facts

Location: Canada

Engagement: Full-time

Compensation: $130,000 to $160,000 per year What you'll do Drive the look of 3D assets from start to finish, managing textures, shaders, and lighting to satisfy Rodeo FX quality benchmarks. Create high-resolution texture maps using photographic references, scans, and procedural techniques to define complex surface realism. Produce validation renders, including turntables and AOVs, to facilitate daily review and analysis. Collaborate closely with the Lighting department to diagnose and resolve interactions between textures, shading networks, and rendering outcomes. Iterate on surface detail based on creative feedback, ensuring assets evolve in line with directorial and artistic goals. Establish efficient UV layouts and material setups that streamline workflows for downstream departments in Texturing and Compositing. Monitor render performance, adjusting texture resolution and sampling settings to prevent bottlenecks while preserving visual fidelity. Maintain awareness of advancements in rendering technologies such as Arnold and Karma, integrating relevant techniques to enhance shot quality. Requirements Possess a minimum of 6 years of dedicated experience in look development and texturing within VFX or animation productions. Demonstrate advanced proficiency in texturing tools, specifically Mari and Substance Painter or Designer, for crafting realistic surface detail. Show comprehensive understanding of PBR workflows, color management principles, UV logic, and displacement strategies. Provide evidence of experience with USD pipelines, ShotGrid, and Python scripting to enhance team efficiency and pipeline stability. Exhibit a proven ability to deliver optimized, lighting-ready assets that consistently meet strict deadlines and studio standards. Responsibilities aligned with the job description The Look Development Artist is expected to master their craft by developing complete looks through the strategic combination of textures, shaders, and validation lighting. They refine surface properties to achieve photorealistic results, directly contributing to the artistic and technical quality of delivered assets. This ensures all elements meet Rodeo FX standards and integrate seamlessly into final sequences. The role requires close collaboration with Texturing, Lighting, Compositing, Supervision, and Production teams to support both pipeline integrity and creative objectives. Creative and technical quality Propose clear and effective artistic solutions rooted in a deep comprehension of materials and surface behavior. Ensure visual consistency across all texturing, shading, and lighting processes for every asset. Achieve a high level of realism through meticulous attention to micro-details and surface variation. Exercise critical thinking and artistic judgment when interpreting and enhancing visual references. Design physically plausible shaders that are optimized for production and pipeline compatibility. Create, adapt, or fix textures, including UVs, tiling, displacement, and color space management, to guarantee performance in lookdev. Build clean and efficient setups that reinforce rather than hinder Lighting and Compositing workflows. Quickly identify and resolve technical issues to prevent production delays. Communication and collaboration Engage in active partnerships with upstream and downstream teams to ensure seamless asset continuity. Partner with Lighting and Compositing to uphold consistency in the final render. Communicate technical requirements related to textures and shading with clarity and precision. Actively participate in dailies and integrate feedback in a constructive, proactive manner. Growth and knowledge sharing Contribute to the ongoing refinement of workflows between Texturing and Lookdev. Share expertise on materials, shaders, and advanced techniques with colleagues. Support the development of tools, templates, and best practices that improve production efficiency. Stay current with the latest developments in rendering, shading, and texturing to maintain a competitive edge. Position requirements - Minimum of 6 years of experience in lookdev and/or texturing in VFX or animation. - Strong proficiency in Houdini (Solaris/Karma) and/or Maya, as well as Nuke. - Solid knowledge of rendering engines such as Arnold and/or Karma. - Advanced expertise in texturing with Mari and/or Substance Painter/Designer. - Strong understanding of PBR workflows, UVs, color management, and displacement. - Good understanding of the interaction between textures, shaders, lighting, and rendering. - Ability to deliver clean, optimized, production-ready assets. - High level of autonomy, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage priorities effectively. - Strong technical and artistic rigor, with great attention to detail. - Collaborative mindset, clear communication, and constructive attitude. Nice to have Experience with USD pipelines. Familiarity with ShotGrid or similar production tracking tools. Experience in tool development or scripting (Python). Experience in hybrid environments, including feature film, advertising, series, and experiential projects. Work arrangements As an artist-founded and artist-led company, creativity is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to give our talent the freedom, resources, and environment they need to produce high-quality work and thrive in a stimulating, collaborative, and supportive setting. With this in mind, employees are expected to work from the studio at least three days per week. The remaining days may be worked under flexible arrangements, when the nature of the role, production needs, and work organization allow. This balance helps us support collaboration, preserve our studio culture, and encourage the in-person exchanges that are essential to the way we create. Diversity At Rodeo FX, diversity is a core value. We are