Asset Generalist Senior Artist (Freelance)

Company Description

Remote candidates within Toronto or Vancouver may also be considered.

We don’t just build worlds. We build the teams that build better worlds.

From Montreal to Mumbai, London to Los Angeles, we unite diverse talent and experience across 10 global studios, delivering stronger, simpler, smarter VFX for episodic television and feature films.

For well over a decade, FOLKS artists have come together to create ambitious work with human-focused collaboration. As part of the Pitch Black network, our teams contribute their distinct creative strengths to a broader community of talent, technology, and expertise around the world.

Join us and find your FOLKS.

Job Description

The Asset Generalist Senior Artist is responsible for the delivery of complete production-ready assets. This role focuses on complex work, technical leadership, and mentoring team members. Working closely with Modeling, Texture, Lookdev, Rigging, Production teams, the Asset Generalist Senior Artist ensures that work meets creative, technical, and schedule requirements.

Asset Creation & Development

• Execute advanced asset work including hero characters and complex assets
• Lead asset development from modelling through final lookdev
• Create complete production-ready assets to the highest standards
• Mentor junior and mid-level artists on cross-discipline workflows
• Deliver assigned work on schedule while maintaining a high standard of quality

Pipeline & Workflow

• Ensure deliverables meet technical requirements for downstream departments
• Troubleshoot pipeline issues in collaboration with other departments
• Participate in and, where appropriate, run dailies

Quality, Continuity & Self-QC

• Set and maintain a high quality bar; spot issues early and help others raise consistency
• Create or improve QC checklists/templates and share best practices with the team
• Anticipate downstream integration needs and solve problems proactively with clear trade-offs

Workflow & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with local and global teams, Supervisors, and HoDs to design tools and optimised workflows
• Support global production teams through documentation and technical guidance
• Contribute to ongoing workflow improvements through technical problem-solving

Communication, Collaboration & Mentorship

• Participate in dailies, presenting work clearly and responding to feedback
• Communicate proactively with Supervisors, HoDs, and Production to identify risks and constraints
• Work effectively across time zones in a fast-paced production environment
• Support skill development across local and global teams through mentorship and knowledge sharing

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a professional VFX production environment with a focus on Asset Generalist
• Expert-level proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Mari, Katana and Houdini
• Strong scripting skills in Python, MEL, VEX for tool development and workflow automation

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading sequences or small teams
• Cross-site collaboration experience
• Contribution to R&D or tool development initiatives

Core Technical Skills

• Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Mari, Katana, Houdini: complete production-ready assets
• Scripting: Python, MEL, VEX for tools and workflow automation

Soft Skills

• Clear and effective communication across disciplines and time zones
• Strong problem-solving skills under production pressure
• Collaborative team player with positive attitude
• Self-motivated with ability to manage multiple tasks and mentor others

Additional Information

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Pitch Black is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Pitch Black, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, skills, experience, and business needs. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital or family status, pregnancy, veteran or military status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, provincial, or local law.