Tech Ops Specialist, Animation and VFX

Description

Job Description Summary:

The Tech Ops Specialist for Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) provides key student and faculty support in the areas of digital media arts, including VFX, render farm management, digital post-production, computer embedded systems, audio and video nonlinear editing systems, 2D and 3D animation, motion graphic design, stereoscopic presentation, motion capture technology and virtual reality workflows at Dodge College.

This position oversees the creation and troubleshooting of visual effects and animation workflows from inception to final delivery and screening.

The Tech Ops Specialist conducts ongoing research of emerging equipment and techniques for animation, digital intermediary processes, visual effects, compositing, and online editorial finishing, and provides recommendations for enhancements, improvements, and upgrades, presenting supporting information for evaluation by management.

The Tech Ops Specialist also builds and maintains the computer systems and technology used for animation and visual effects, video, and audio production, including the render farm.

This position also sometimes helps to coordinate seminars, tutorials and individual training sessions for students and faculty on the proper use of post-production equipment and software.

Provides general support and guidance to Animation and Visual Effects faculty and students within the Digital Media Arts Center.

Responsibilities:

• Develop enterprise-level provisioning templates, including researching all relevant software upgrades, distribute to systems, and troubleshoot installation issues.

• Upgrade and manage the animation computer embedded systems and servers.

• Build, maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot audio and video post-production facilities.

• Assist students and faculty with Animation and VFX production workflows and project management.

• Supervise student workers that assist Animation and VFX students and equipment maintenance.

• Develop seminars, tutorials, and training for the proper use of post-production equipment and applications.

• Ongoing research of emerging equipment and techniques for digital intermediary processes including stereoscopic, visual effects and computer-generated image technology.

• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field.

• 3-5 years related professional work experience and/or a combination of equivalent experience

• Working knowledge and demonstrated proficiency of post-production hardware and software, digital animation applications and rendering platforms including Autodesk Media and Entertainment animation software, Avid Media Composer and Pro Tools, Blackmagic Design Fusion and DaVinci Resolve, Adobe CC, Nuke, and similar media content creation software.

• Familiarity with computer embedded systems including hardware and software upgrades.

• Demonstrated knowledge of industry trends in the field of post-production technologies, digital 2D and 3D animation, visual effects creation, sound mixing and design, and digital compositing workflows.

• Ability to prioritize duties when faced with interruptions, distractions, and a fluctuating workload.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills with the ability to translate technical terms into non-technical terms.

• Ability to prioritize and manage time to take initiate of time sensitive projects.

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a diverse group of individuals at all organizational levels; including faculty, students, staff, and other members of the Chapman community.

• Technical skills to learn and use enterprise information systems and tools.

• Ability to manage centralized license server for post-production software.

• Ability to make effective and strategic decisions, including proper recommendations for improvement.

• Strong analytical skills to understand and troubleshoot digital application issues.

• Experience in technology-based support, teaching and instructing.

• Experience as a systems administrator managing enterprise-level computer systems.