Crowd FX Artist

Location: Europe (Hybrid) Type: Freelance About Us Since 2014, we've been bringing imagination to life through world-class technology and extraordinary talent. As a global studio spanning Scanning, Mocap, VFX and Animation, our employees are part of shaping what's next. The Role We are seeking a highly skilled and technically driven Crowd FX Artist to create large-scale, photo-real crowd simulations for world-class visual effects productions. You will be responsible for building and executing complex agent and simulation systems that integrate seamlessly with live-action footage, delivering results that are both technically robust and visually convincing. This role sits at the intersection of technical problem-solving and creative artistry. You'll work closely with Animation, Layout, Lighting and Compositing teams to bring ambitious sequences to life at scale, contributing your expertise across all stages of production from agent setup through to final shot delivery. What You'll Do Design and execute large-scale crowd simulation systems delivering believable, dynamic and diverse results that integrate convincingly with live-action footage Build and configure agent setups for non-standard creature types, ensuring natural and varied movement at scale Convert assets to crowd agents within the GBK pipeline, running and iterating simulations across a range of complex shot contexts Collaborate closely with Animation, Layout, Lighting and Compositing to ensure seamless integration with plate photography Simulate realistic herd and stampede-style behaviours, including terrain interaction, collision avoidance and dynamic variation across large agent counts Troubleshoot and resolve issues around crowd behaviours, cache delivery and agent-level errors Optimise rigs, agents and simulation systems for performance and stability at scale Carry out rigorous quality checks before shot delivery Communicate clearly with supervisors and production on progress, priorities and any risks to deadlines What You Bring 2+ years of experience as a Crowd or FX Artist on high-end VFX, film or episodic productions Strong working knowledge of Houdini Crowds Experience simulating organic, animal or creature-based crowds rather than just bipedal human agents Solid understanding of CG production pipelines and how crowd work integrates with animation, lighting and compositing Rigging and animation experience beneficial - particularly for quadruped or non-standard agent setups Experience with Mocap retargeting in Maya or MotionBuilder a plus Strong understanding of naturalistic movement, herd dynamics and physically believable simulation behaviour Python scripting knowledge a plus Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, live-action VFX environment Why Join Us? At Goodbye Kansas, we strive to cultivate an inclusive company culture that celebrates the passion and talent of our employees. We believe that creative excellence thrives when supported by strong values, mutual respect, and a vibrant workplace environment. We have a strong emphasis on work-life balance and employee well-being. We offer a hybrid working model with full flexibility - work from home, the office, or a mix of both. We do however encourage office presence to help foster a collaborative atmosphere with team members and colleagues. We're proud of our supportive and friendly atmosphere. We value knowledge-sharing, teamwork, and curiosity - whether you're on-site or remote. You'll have access to industry-leading pipeline, software, tools, and workflows, along with opportunities to join workshops, attend training, and work on a wide range of ambitious projects. We encourage internal mobility and career progression, giving you the chance to take on new challenges and expand your role over time. Goodbye Kansas Studios is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.