Environment Surfacing Supervisor
HybridSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Job Summary
Supervise the surfacing of environments, sets, and props to create high-quality, stylized or realistic looks that support the show's visual storytelling. Work closely with the Production Designer, Art Director (Environments), and Head of Environments to interpret design intent, color palettes, and material direction. Lead environment surfacing reviews and provide clear, specific, and constructive feedback on textures, materials, and shading. Ensure environment surfacing work meets technical requirements and pipeline standards so assets integrate smoothly with Lighting, FX, CFX, and Rendering. Collaborate with Modeling, Layout, Lighting, and Technical teams to troubleshoot issues and align on efficient, production-friendly workflows. Help define and refine surfacing tools, material libraries, and workflows in partnership with Production Technology, R&D, and surfacing/lookdev TDs. Provide input to Production Management and department leadership on asset complexity and progress to support realistic planning and prioritization. Mentor and support environment surfacing artists, helping to identify training needs and contributing to performance feedback and craft development. Foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team culture where artists can do their best work. This role is based out of Sydney, Australia, in a hybrid capacity of minimum three days a week in the office.
Required Qualifications
- Significant experience as a Surfacing/Lookdev Artist focused on environments in feature animation, VFX, or high-end games/series, including time in a Lead or Supervisory role
- A strong portfolio/reel demonstrating excellence in environment surfacing, with a deep understanding of textures, materials, and color in stylized and/or realistic worlds
- Proficiency with surfacing and lookdev tools such as Mari, Substance Painter/Designer, and Maya, and experience with a modern path-tracing renderer (e.g., RenderMan, Arnold, or similar)
- Strong understanding of how environment surfacing interacts with Modeling, Layout, FX, CFX, Lighting, and Rendering within a production pipeline
- Great communication and leadership skills, with the ability to give clear, constructive feedback and collaborate effectively across departments
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- This role is based out of Sydney, Australia
- Hybrid Role (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office)
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