FX Technical Director; R&D Team

Position: FX Technical Director (R&D Team)
Position:  FX Technical Director (R&D Team)

Experience:

6+ Years

Location:

Chennai (On-site)

About Us

Knack Studios is a full-service post-production facility with a focus on rendering your

dreams into cinematic experiences. Spearheaded by filmmakers, Knack Studios is

powered by equipment and technologies available for the first time in South India,

making us the preferred post-production studio.

In a short span of 7 years, Knack Studios has delivered 800+ successful projects in

Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam & Kannada.

Headquartered at Chennai in a state of the art secure 20,000 square feet spread across

2 locations and an upcoming 6000 square feet facility in Hyderabad, Knack Studios

offers services in Sound, Color grading and Visual Effects enabling clients to realize

their artistic vision.

Job Summary

We are seeking an innovative and highly skilled FX Technical Director (FX TD) to join our R&D Team.

You will play a pivotal role in developing advanced FX workflows, simulations, and procedural assets

for VFX and Animation productions. This role focuses on problem-solving, pipeline optimization, and

tool development to improve efficiency and quality across departments.

Job Responsibilities

Research, develop, and implement cutting-edge FX tools and workflows for production.
Create procedural setups and simulations (smoke, fire, water, destruction, crowds) in Houdini.
Collaborate with Python Developers to integrate FX tools into the production pipeline.
Prototype and test AI-driven solutions for FX processes (automation, lookdev assistance).
Optimize FX workflows for efficiency, scalability, and render performance.
Create reusable FX templates and asset libraries for artists.
Work with Look Dev and Asset teams to ensure seamless FX-Asset integration.
Support R&D initiatives, from concept to final production rollout.
Document workflows and train production teams on new tools, techniques, and best practices.
Stay informed about the latest VFX trends, tools, and technologies, bringing innovative ideas into the studio.

Qualifications

5+ years of experience as an FX TD/FX Artist in high-end VFX, Animation, or Game environments.
Expert in Houdini (procedural workflows, simulations, VEX scripting).
Proficiency in Blender (Geometry Nodes, FX workflows) is a major plus.

Experience with Unreal Engine FX, Niagara, and real-time FX pipelines is advantageous.
Strong Python scripting skills for tool creation and pipeline automation.
Ability to troubleshoot complex FX setups and performance bottlenecks.
Excellent communication skills; ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams.
Passion for R&D, innovation, and problem-solving in VFX production.

Nice To Have

Knowledge of C++, OpenCL, or Shader programming.
Familiarity with Machine Learning frameworks (PyTorch, Tensor Flow).
Experience in developing AI-driven FX tools.
Previous experience working on real-time projects or virtual production pipelines.

What You'll Gain

Work at the forefront of VFX R&D, shaping next-gen workflows.
Collaborate with a cross-functional team of Python Developers, Look Dev Artists, and Production Trainers.
Opportunity to lead innovative projects that impact global productions.
Be part of a team focused on efficiency, speed, and artistic quality.