Contractor 3D Lead

ngx is hiring a 3D Lead on retainer to help us take our 3D capabilities to the next level. Some in-person presence at our Vancouver, BC studio is ideal but not required — remote candidates will also be considered. This retainer position is for 30 hours per week over a 3-month period, with the potential to extend. You’ll work closely with the Head of Animation, Production Managers, and project teams to create, oversee, and deliver high-quality 3D visuals. In this role, you’ll split your time between hands-on creative work and leadership — driving look development, modeling, texturing, lighting, and asset animation while also guiding in-house and freelance artists, while ensuring consistency across projects. You are fluent in 3D production techniques, pipelines, and workflows across Maya/Blender, Substance, and Unreal.

• Take ownership of complex sequences, environments, and assets from concept through to final delivery.
• Balance hands-on creative work with team supervision and mentorship.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Animation, producers, and developers to shape the creative approach.
• Contribute to look development, lighting, shading, and asset animation.
• Provide constructive, actionable feedback in reviews.
• Anticipate technical or creative issues in the pipeline, propose solutions.
• Represent the Animation/3D department in cross-discipline meetings.
• Uphold studio conventions and help refine best practices for file organization.
• Participate in client presentations at project milestones.
• Contribute your skills and knowledge.

• 5+ years of professional 3D production experience.
• A portfolio that reflects your skills.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Adept at building and maintaining a network of artists.
• Advanced proficiency in Maya, Blender, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of Substance Painter.
• Proven experience with lighting, rendering, and lookdev.
• Confident with asset animation.
• Comfortable setting up and troubleshooting asset pipelines.
• Strong creative eye for composition, scale, and detail.
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior/mid-level artists.
• Clear communicator in cross-disciplinary meetings.
• Able to lead by example in upholding studio standards.
• Highly organized and agile, team-oriented, solution-oriented.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Commitment to delivering excellence and meeting high standards for quality.
• Creative, imaginative, curious, flexible - willing to learn new things and adapt.

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