Role: Machine Learning Compositing Artist / Production TD

Department: Machine Learning / VFX

Location: Remote / Hybrid

Role Overview

This role sits at the intersection of production delivery, machine learning workflows, and visual effects compositing. Rather than focusing on core ML development or backend tool authoring, you will be the hands-on operator leveraging our internal ML toolsets to generate, test, and deliver production-ready elements across departments.Supporting global education and VFX production through Machine Learning as a tool.

Working closely with the Machine Learning Supervisor, you will be involved with setting up project assets to running shot work elements according to in-house standards, rigorously evaluate and tune outputs within a range of tools from in-house, Comfyui to nuke, and provide vital artist-level feedback to help guide ongoing tool development and help refine functional capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Element Generation & Cross-Department Delivery: Operate proprietary and production ML tools to generate, process, and package high-quality elements and passes for the compositing and other departments.

• Asset Ingestion & Setup: Prepare, structure, and curate project datasets, and shot assets strictly adhering to studio pipeline conventions and in-house ML workflows.

• Output QC & Compositing Integration: Use advanced Nuke compositing skills to integrate, test, and tune ML-generated outputs—ensuring seamless color consistency, edge quality, and plate fidelity.

• Tool Tuning & Supervisor Collaboration: Partner with the ML Supervisor and pipeline developers to test prototype toolsets on live production shots, stress-test usability, and suggest practical feature enhancements.

• Workflow Troubleshooting: Identify artifacts, failure modes, or quality drops in ML results; apply compositing solutions or adjust input configurations to achieve the required aesthetic standard.

• Documentation & Asset Tracking: Maintain clear internal tracking of shot deliveries, model versions used per shot, and asset dependencies across ongoing shows.

Skill Requirements

Compositing & Visual Quality

• Strong production experience in Foundry Nuke with an eye for photorealism, shot continuity, edge work, and color management (ACES/OCIO).

• Ability to own shots through to final, building whatever elements are required to deliver (comp solutions, projections, paint work, ML-generated outputs).

• Expert-level CG compositing and multi-pass compositing. Comfortable breaking down and integrating full render passes, not just single-layer plate work. 

• Resourceful multi-element compositing at a high level. Able to create or source whatever elements a shot needs when nothing exists off the shelf.

• Strong 3D fundamentals: camera tracking, projection setups, and matchmoving to support element placement and shot integration.

• Compositing troubleshooting beyond ML outputs. Able to diagnose whether the problem is the plate, the setup, or the model, and solve it either way.

ML Toolsets & Technical Aptitude

• Hands-on experience utilizing ML/AI-assisted tools within VFX or post-production environments (e.g., ComfyUI, proprietary ML interfaces, or node-based workflows).

• 3-4+ years experience as a compositor with a proven track record of working on both episodic and feature film environments.

• Comfortable navigating studio pipelines, folder hierarchies, naming conventions, and asset management systems.

• Basic scripting literacy (Python, basic shell commands) to troubleshoot execution environments, manage file sets, or assist in repetitive setup tasks is a plus.

Production & Collaboration

• High attention to detail and ability to maintain consistent asset standards across high shot volumes.

• Regular, proactive reporting to production teams and department supervisors to clearly communicate delivery timelines, schedule goals, and technical or artistic roadblocks as they arise.

• Strong communication skills to clearly articulate tool bugs, output quirks, and feature requests to technical supervisors and developers.

• Proactive problem-solving mindset with the flexibility to balance technical pipeline requirements with creative deliverables.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, and a link to your reel along with a breakdown of all the shots included in your submitted reel. As we understand that delays can occur in receiving final shots, please ensure that all work samples provided are as recent as possible.

Working Rights

100% remote within British Columbia, with no restrictions on local working rights. Unfortunately, any exceptions will not be considered for this role currently.

 We look forward to receiving your application! 

Crafty Apes Australia is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.