Job Title: Lead Houdini Artist (Motion Design / VFX)
Reporting to: Creative Director / Head of Production
Role Overview
We are seeking a Lead Houdini Artist to join a high-performing, agile creative team in the UAE. This role is positioned as a senior, hands-on specialist, focused on delivering exceptional Houdini-based work across motion design, VFX, and real-time pipelines.
This is not a traditional team management role. Instead, the Lead will act as a right hand to leadership, bringing strong ownership, technical depth, and the ability to drive projects end-to-end. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working directly with clients, guiding internal teams, and executing complex Houdini work themselves.
Key Responsibilities
Creative & Technical Execution
* Lead the creation of high-quality Houdini-based simulations, procedural systems, and visual effects
* Deliver hands-on work across motion design, VFX, and real-time environments
* Ensure creative output aligns with client expectations and project briefs
* Troubleshoot and optimize complex scenes, simulations, and workflows
Project Ownership & Delivery
* Take full ownership of projects from brief through to final delivery
* Manage feedback loops between clients and internal teams, ensuring clarity and efficiency
* Oversee project flow using task management systems and production pipelines
* Ensure deadlines, quality standards, and deliverables are consistently met
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
* Act as a confident, client-facing representative during key stages of delivery
* Translate client requirements into actionable creative and technical direction
* Bridge the gap between creative output and client expectations
Team Collaboration & Guidance
* Brief, guide, and support team members to ensure strong execution
* Provide mentorship and technical input without formal line management responsibility
* Step in to support operational delivery when needed, ensuring continuity across projects
Target Background / Ideal Experience
We are particularly interested in candidates coming from:
* Motion design studios with strong use of Houdini in their pipelines
* VFX houses, particularly within commercial and advertising environments
* Select game development studios where Houdini is embedded in the production pipeline
* Candidates should be experienced in fast-paced, client-driven environments with a strong balance of creativity and technical skill.
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Key Requirements
* 5+ years of experience working with Houdini in motion design, VFX, or related fields
* Strong portfolio demonstrating procedural workflows, simulations, and high-end visual output
* Proven ability to work in client-facing roles and manage feedback effectively
* Experience with production pipelines, task management systems, and collaborative workflows
* Strong understanding of rendering workflows (Redshift, Arnold, Karma, or similar)