Environment Surfacing Supervisor - Netflix Animation Studios
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
Full-time
Applications open in a new tab.
Job details
- Job type
- Full-time
- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!
Job Summary:
We are seeking an Environment Surfacing Supervisor to support our upcoming feature film. The Environment Surfacing Supervisor works inside of NAS to lead the environment surfacing team on a specific film, defining and supervising the look of all digital environments, sets, and props. This role ensures that textures, materials, and shaders align with the vision of the Director and Production Designer and are technically ready for Lighting, FX, CFX, and Rendering.
What You’ll Do:
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
Help foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team culture where artists can do their best work
What You’ll Need:
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 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hybrid Role (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office).
At NAS, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The overall market range for this role is typically $163k - 223k CAD. This reflects total compensation; we do not have stock options.
NAS benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, and family-forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off. See more detail about our benefits here.
Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.
More about this job
Responsibilities
The Environment Surfacing Supervisor leads the team in defining and supervising the look of digital environments, sets, and props for feature films. They ensure all surfacing work aligns with the director's vision and meets technical pipeline requirements for downstream departments.
Requirements
Candidates must have significant experience in surfacing or lookdev within feature animation, VFX, or high-end games, including previous leadership experience. A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in textures, materials, and color, along with proficiency in industry-standard software like Mari and Maya, is required.
Skills
- Surfacing
- Lookdev
- Environment design
- Mari
- Substance Painter
- Substance Designer
- Maya
- RenderMan
- Arnold
- Path-tracing
- Leadership
- Communication
- Texture mapping
- Material development
- Shading
- Pipeline integration
Benefits
- Medical plan
- Dental plan
- Vision plan
- Mental health support
- Retirement programs
- Family-forming benefits
- Paid leave of absence
- Paid time off
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Categories
- Creative & Media
- Art & Design
- Technology
- Engineering
Keywords
- Environment Surfacing
- Lookdev
- Feature Animation
- VFX
- Mari
- Substance Painter
- Substance Designer
- Maya
- RenderMan
- Arnold
- Path-tracing
- Shaders
- Textures
- Materials
- Production Pipeline
- Modeling
- Layout
- Lighting
- FX
- CFX
- Rendering
- Art Direction
- Production Design
- Technical Direction
- Asset Management
- Workflow Optimization
- Mentorship
- Team Leadership
- Stylized
- Realistic