Head of Environments

Overview

Netflix Animation Studios is dedicated to creating groundbreaking, immersive animated films that captivate audiences worldwide. Our commitment to cultivating a vibrant, creative talent pool spans multiple global locations. We invite passionate professionals to join our dynamic team!

Role Summary

The Head of Environments serves as the primary creative and technical leader for all digital environments, sets, and props within a show. Collaborating closely with Directors, Production Designers, VFX Supervisors, Art Directors, Asset Heads, and Technical Supervisors, this role ensures environments are artistically stunning and technically sound.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the environment asset teams, encompassing Modeling, Surfacing, and Matte Painting, throughout asset creation, look development, and shot production.
• Establish the artistic and technical methodology for environment creation, including interpreting 2D concepts into seamless 3D spaces, guiding camera projections, and matte painting integration.
• Review and critique all set and prop assets, ensuring premier quality while maintaining efficiency and technical stability in production.
• Facilitate close collaboration with leadership across creative and technical disciplines to align environmental designs with the film’s visual narrative.
• Coordinate with Production Management regarding budgeting, scheduling, and prioritization to ensure timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Mentor supervisors and artists in Modeling, Surfacing, and Matte Painting, promoting skill enhancement and a supportive work culture.
• Advocate effective communication across departments, translating complex concepts for diverse teams.

Required Qualifications

• Over 10 years of experience crafting environment assets within film, television, or gaming industries, including 5 to 7 years in leadership roles on large-scale animated or VFX productions.
• Advanced expertise in modeling and surfacing pipelines, with deep familiarity of 3D layout, asset construction, and camera projection techniques.
• Proficient in industry-standard tools such as Maya, ZBrush or Mudbox, texturing suites like Substance Painter, Mari, Photoshop, and matte painting workflows.
• Comprehensive understanding of digital film pipelines and supporting technologies including Katana, RenderMan, and real-time rendering systems.
• Strong capability in 2D visualization to swiftly prototype and refine environmental concepts.
• Experience with production tracking and project management platforms, for instance, Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid).
• Exceptional leadership, mentoring, and interpersonal skills enabling cross-functional collaboration, with strong decision-making aptitude under production pressures.

Additional Information

• Position is based in Sydney, Australia, requiring a hybrid working model with at least three days per week onsite.
• Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, mental health support, retirement savings plans, family-forming benefits, paid leave for vacation and sickness, and programs supporting extended paid absences.
• Netflix embraces inclusivity and equal opportunity, ensuring a respectful recruitment process accessible to candidates requesting accommodations.
• Our workplace values diversity and prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, gender identity or any other protected status.