Lead Compositing Artist

Job Summary

Swaybox Studios is seeking an experienced and hands-on Lead Compositor to help guide the seamless integration of our VFX elements. In this role, you will support the compositing team in maintaining visual consistency across practical and CG environment extensions, props, vehicles, and other FX elements to achieve both photorealistic and stylized composites.

Working closely with the Compositing Supervisor, artists, and Technical Directors, you will lead shot execution, mentor compositors, and help maintain efficient workflows while ensuring the creative vision and technical quality of the film are upheld.

This position requires strong on-the-box compositing skills, experience guiding artists within a production environment, and advanced knowledge of Nuke within a live-action VFX pipeline.

This is a studio-based role working onsite in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the compositing of complex shots, ensuring seamless integration of elements while maintaining the visual language and aesthetic of the film.
• Support the Compositing Supervisor in guiding artists and maintaining consistent artistic and technical standards across assigned sequences.
• Work closely with CG, Character Comp, Tracking, and other departments to ensure smooth handoffs and proper integration of elements.
• Contribute significant on-the-box compositing work, solving complex compositing challenges and setting examples of best practices for the team.
• Provide feedback, mentorship, and guidance to compositors to support growth and maintain a collaborative working environment.
• Help track shot progress and support the team in meeting deadlines, while maintaining high-quality output.
• Troubleshoot technical issues within artist scripts and assist with workflow solutions.
• Collaborate with the Compositing Supervisor and TDs to help identify pipeline improvements, tool needs, and workflow optimizations.
• Translate creative and technical notes from the Director, VFX Supervisor, Compositing Supervisor, and stakeholders into clear shot direction.
• Participate in dailies, reviews, and team syncs, providing constructive feedback and helping ensure notes are applied efficiently.
• Create clean, efficient Nuke scripts, templates, and reusable setups that support scalable workflows.
• Maintain organized files while adhering to pipeline standards, naming conventions, and documentation practices.
• Contribute to early visual development, look development, and R&D when needed.
• Stay informed on emerging compositing tools, technologies, and industry techniques.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of high-end, live-action film or episodic compositing experience, with a strong emphasis on environments and realism.
• Proven experience leading shots or mentoring artists within a compositing team environment.
• Strong on-the-box compositing skills involving live-action and CG integration.
• Expert-level knowledge of Nuke, including Gizmos, Groups, projections, depth workflows, and advanced compositing techniques.
• Experience compositing both stylized and photorealistic environments with strong attention to cinematography and storytelling detail.
• Solid understanding of DMP and CG pipelines within a VFX production environment.
• Experience working with OCIO/ACES color workflows.
• Working knowledge of vector-based compositing tools and techniques.
• Strong understanding of visual language, including texture, color, dimension, scale, perspective, motion blur, depth of field, and spatial awareness.
• Experience working with LiDAR scans, HDRIs, and photogrammetry.
• Strong understanding of cinematography, photography, and color science, including lenses, lighting setups, and camera workflows.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative production environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using Nuke particles.
• Familiarity with KeenTools.
• Understanding of lighting workflows within a CG pipeline.
• Experience with Python scripting for Nuke or batch automation.
• Previous collaboration with Technical Directors on pipeline tools or workflow improvements.
• Familiarity with performance-tracking pipelines, rotomation, or hybrid workflows.
• Basic experience with Unreal Engine or other real-time rendering tools.