Digital Systems Specialist

Description

For over 40 years, CalArts has been a groundbreaking leader in arts education.  Offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the visual, performing, media, and literary arts, our much-emulated programs have produced many of the most influential artists practicing today.

This is a full-time staff position in an animation mixed platform-computing environment.  The School of Film/Video encourages highly motivated students with an independent and experimental approach towards their discipline.  Facilities are used for teaching purposes, as well as the creation of innovative, non-conventional forms of film and video making.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
•    Provide advanced and specialized facility and workflow technical expertise to support faculty, students and staff at the School of Film/Video, under direction of the Associate Director of Technology and Digital Media and Associate Dean, Finance and Operations.
•    Analyze, diagnose and resolve hardware, software and network performance challenges within computer animation labs, classrooms, stop motion production facility, multi media lab, digital imaging/compositing lab and other animation facilities.
•    Consult with Experimental Animation faculty, staff and students to ensure that digital workflows, facilities management plans, schedules and policies are meeting the technical and administrative needs of the program.
•    Maintain local file systems on Mac and Windows systems, optimizing disks, backing up essential files, identifying and notifying over-quota users and deleting files as needed.
•    Configure and maintain a Pipelinefx Qube! render farm.
•    Assist students in using digital animation systems, workflows and software, including input and output to film projection and video display devices.
•    Supervise, train and schedule student workers who assist in maintaining the labs and animation equipment.
•    Assist in the creation, testing and deployment of animation laboratory client computer images, including preparation of application–specific system image deployment packages.
•    Plan and coordinate with the School of Film/Video Video Engineer and Equipment Supervisor to provide technical support for still frame/video acquisition, video display, film and print hardware in and out devices.
•    Develop, analyze and update digital workflows to assist in preparing year-end screenings, including preparation of technical guidelines and procedures for student’s digital submissions.
•    Develop, maintain, and update relevant web information on the School of Film/Video technical resource website.
•    Analyze and implement security related procedures including regular animation application patches and updates.
•    Maintain compliance with CalArts IT and the School of Film/Video’s lab and safety policies and promote standards for security conscious awareness and behavior. 
•    Attend regular technical meetings within the School of Film/Video and the Institute.
•    Attend sponsored classes and maintain relationships with company representatives in order to keep abreast of technological advances in the field.
•    Advise management on future growth of the digital animation labs and facilities and provide consultation on the design, development and maintenance of digital animation areas used by the School. 
•    Perform other duties as directed.

SKILLS/ABILITIES:
•    Expertise with current Mac and Windows operating systems and ability to master new versions as needed.
•    Extensive knowledge of animation workflows including 2D, 3D and stop motion digital animation systems.
•    Some knowledge of stereoscopic 3D motion capture systems.
•    Excellent technical and communication skills with supervisory experience.
•    Ability to manage time efficiently with the ability to work under pressure handling multiple duties at the same time.
•    Ability to work independently using own initiative.

EXPERIENCE:
•    Some experience with analog and digital video input/output hardware.
•    Extensive experience with 3D software such as Maya and/or Cinema 4D.
•    Extensive experience using editing, compositing, and image processing software such as Adobe After Effects, Premiere and Photoshop.
•    Experience with 2K/4K digital workflows and 16mm and 35mm filmmaking desirable. 
•    Two years relevant experience in digital technical support preferably in an academic environment

EDUCATION:
•    High School diploma required.  Undergraduate degree in related field preferred.

This position is available immediately.