Careers

We're seeking talented and passionate individuals who strive for quality, collaboration and growth.

Are you a future Rockie?!

We are Floating Rock!

A small animation studio born out of the creative powerhouse that is Wellington's Film Industry.
We love our craft - but are not married to it. We discourage OT and value a work-life balance.
Want to develop new skills? Put your knowledge to the test on the next project that fits.

We are industry veterans embarking on our own journey to build a dream team and create incredible work.

Come craft our future with us!  

Open Positions*

CFX Artist

Based in Wellington, NZ

We are industry veterans embarking on our own journey to build a dream team and create incredible work. Come craft our future with us!

We are looking for a full-time and experienced Mid or Senior CFX artist to join our amazing creature shows. 26 creatures are awaiting your talents.

This is a 6 months contract from February - July 2024. We will only accept the applications from artists who are currently based in Wellington, New Zealand and able to work in New Zealand legally without visa sponsorship.

Tasks

  • Ability to simulate and create high quality deformations for characters and creatures throughout shots

  • Providing revisions and troubleshooting deformations based on supervisor/client feedback

Experience

  • Understanding and ability to simulate using Ziva or houdini

  • High level of understanding of creature and human anatomy

  • Knowledgeable and comfortable building rigs in maya

  • Python scripting

Nice to have

  • Attention to details

  • The ability to work autonomously and own portions of the content pipeline

  • Team spirit! We’re a start up and building a great team is important to us

  • Organised, proactive and a self-starter

  • A team player and clear communicator, and a keenness for collaboration

  • Adaptable and with a willingness to learn new skills and techniques

Senior Asset Artist (Expression of Interest)

Based in Wellington, NZ

Job Summary:

At Floating Rock animation studio, we're not just about fancy words and empty promises. We believe actions speak louder than paragraphs filled with fluff. Our mission is simple: to push the boundaries of imagination and deliver exceptional work. We're seeking an asset lead who shares our passion for bringing purposeful creatures to life. If you're ready to join a team that thrives on creativity, strives for excellence, and embraces audacity, then this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.


Responsibilities:

  • Creates character models of the highest visual and technical quality

  • Strong spatial awareness and a good sense of form, scale and anatomy
    Primary task would be organic and character modelling, but we want an artist that feel comfortable doing all types of modelling (hard-surface, environment, vehicles,etc..)

  • A full working knowledge of modelling in any one or more of these packages: Maya, Blender and Zbrush

  • A good understanding of textures and lookdev

  • Implement productivity-enhancing tools and solutions for technical and team issues

  • Ensure artistic quality and technical continuity across the project.


Qualifications:

             MUST HAVE

  • Understanding the requirements of retopology for high-end VFX movies

  • Previous experience with hero asset

  

            GOOD TO HAVE

  • General 3D Artist skills, Texture, lookdev or grooming experience

  • Extensive technical knowledge in creature assets 

  • Attention to details

  • Good experience with Facial blendshapes

  • Experience with Houdini, Unreal, Marvelous Designer and CySlice or eager to learn

  • The ability to work autonomously and own portions of the content pipeline

  • Organised, pro-active and a self-starter

  • A team player and clear communicator, and a keenness for collaboration

  • Adaptable and with a willingness to learn new skills and techniques


Package:

  • 1 year contractor employment (possibility to move full time employee after that)

  • Return flights and 2 week accommodation (if relocating from overseas)

  • Work permit (excluding medical exams costs)

  • 40h00 to 45h00 a week, every hour paid if overtime

Junior Asset Artist

Based in Wellington, NZ

We are industry veterans embarking on an exciting journey to build an extraordinary team and create incredible work. Come craft our future with us! 

We are looking for a full-time and experienced Asset Artist tao join our amazing project.  

We will only accept applications from artists who are currently based in Wellington, New Zealand.   

Tasks: 

  • Create high-quality 3D models  

  • Ensure models meet technical and aesthetic requirements 

  • Develop detailed textures  

  • Work with UV mapping to create seamless textures and efficiently utilize texture space. 

  • Set up shaders and materials in software such as Maya, Houdini, or Blender, ensuring assets look correct in terms of light response, surface quality, and integration with other elements in the scene. 

  • Work closely with other departments like rigging, animation, lighting, and compositing  

  • Regularly communicate with the art director and lead artists 

  • Optimize models and textures for performance while maintaining visual fidelity 

 

Required Skills: 

  • Texture - Proficiency in Substance painter/Mari 

  • Environment Art - Proficiency in Speedtree/Gaea 

  • Proficiency in Houdini - Solaris – basic VEX coding and FX simulation  

  • Rendering/Lookdev - Proficiency in Renderman/Redshift - Arnold  

  • Modeling - Proficiency in Maya – Zbrush 

  • Photogrammetry workflow experience - Agisoft and reality capture 

  • Video Game pipeline and VFX pipeline workflow experience 

  • Proficiency in Unreal engine for series and animated show 

 
To apply, please send your CV and reel to jobs@floating-rock.com. We do not accept applications from individuals who are not based in Wellington, New Zealand, and are unable to work legally in New Zealand without visa sponsorship

Expression of Interest (all roles)

If you don’t see a role that fits your expertise right now, we’d still love to hear from you! Whether you’re an Artist, in Production, IT, or Support, feel free to send us an Expression of Interest for future opportunities.

Want to be a Rockie?

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Send us your reel, resume, or expression of interest

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