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Image Engine Design

World-class visual effects studio for film/TV

BG Prep Artist Lead

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$98.8k - $106.6k/yr
Senior
Bachelor's
Vancouver, BC, Canada
HybridHybrid in Vancouver; candidates must be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada.
Art, Graphics & AnimationAnimation & VFX

About the job

Requirements
  • Six years of feature film or television production experience.
  • Expertise in Silhouette.
  • Expertise in Nuke.
  • Proficiency in Mocha Pro.
  • Proficiency in ShotGrid.
  • Basic Linux knowledge.
  • Rotoscoping in Silhouette.
  • Efficient spline breakdown and keyframing.
  • Matching plate motion blur.
  • 2D point tracking and Mocha planar tracking.
  • Extracting tracking information from a matchmove camera.
  • Painting frame by frame in Silhouette.
  • Dust busting and cosmetic touches.
  • Painting retime artifacts.
  • Procedural plate cleanup in Nuke.
  • Marker removals.
  • Simple camera, crew, rig, and wire removals.
  • Understanding of Nuke’s 3D environment.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Excellent time management.
  • An eye for detail and precision.
  • Curiosity in photography and film.
  • Understanding of color theory.
  • Responsibility and dedication.
  • Candidates must be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada.
Responsibilities
  • Attend show kickoffs and establish the best strategy for shots with the Compositing Supervisor.
  • Brief artists and draw clear annotations as guidelines.
  • QC submissions and advise artists on technical solutions.
  • Collaborate with the BG Prep Coordinator and Production Manager to address scheduling priorities.
  • Work with the BG Prep Supervisor on standardization and good practices.
  • Work with the HOD on the Department’s overall strategy.
  • Provide feedback regarding artists working on assigned shows.
  • Occasionally work on roto or paint shots and perform required quick fixes.
  • Represent the Department calmly and professionally.
  • Collaborate with other Departments to resolve problems effectively.
  • Manage internal crew capacity in relation to work complexity.
  • Manage packaging and QC of outsource requests.
  • Help train Artists or Coordinators within the Department.
  • Develop effective communication skills to simplify processes and relationships.
  • Suggest improvements to production workflow quality or speed.
Desired Qualifications
  • A degree or diploma in Digital or Traditional Arts is appreciated.
  • A specialization in VFX Compositing is appreciated.
  • Experience in Photoshop, Lightroom, or After Effects is appreciated.
  • Experience in photography is appreciated.

About the company

Image Engine Design is a visual effects studio that provides a full suite of services for feature films and television, including concept design, pre-visualization, computer-generated animation, compositing, and volumetric digital effects. Its process combines early concept work with pre-visualization and then high-end CG and integration work to produce final VFX shots for a project. The company differentiates itself through its long track record (since 1995), its location in Vancouver, and its team of experienced artists who handle the entire VFX pipeline in-house rather than outsourcing components. Its goal is to help storytellers bring their ideas to life by delivering high-quality VFX that support the narrative and visual storytelling of each project.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Vancouver, Canada

Founded

1995

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The Gorge earned a 2026 VES nomination, validating premium environment expertise.
  • 2025 year-end projects include Tron: Ares, Murderbot, Percy Jackson, and The Mandalorian.
  • Upcoming campaigns include Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 and The Mandalorian & Grogu.

What critics are saying

  • OpenAI Images 2.5 on September 8, 2026 squeezes concept-art and previs workflows.
  • Client concentration is severe: Disney, Netflix, Lucasfilm, and Skydance dominate its pipeline.
  • VFX margins stay project-based; one lost tentpole in 2027 can hammer utilization.

What makes Image Engine Design unique

  • Image Engine won 2026 Emmy recognition for Skeleton Crew visual effects.
  • It specializes in photoreal feature and series work for Disney, Netflix, and Lucasfilm.
  • Its 2025 slate spans creatures, environments, water simulation, and matte painting.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Wellness Program

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-4%
Cinesite
Jan 28th, 2026
Major Awards Recognition for The Lost Bus

Major Awards recognition for The Lost Bus. Following the latest BAFTA Film Award nominations, The Lost Bus has achieved the rare "Triple Crown" of industry recognition - earning nominations from the Academy Awards, BAFTA, and the Visual Effects Society. This milestone is a testament to the extraordinary talent, collaboration, and dedication of Cinesite's VFX team. Huge congratulations to Max Dennison and the entire team whose outstanding work helped bring The Lost Bus to life. This level of recognition speaks to work that goes beyond technical excellence. Cinesite's visual effects serve the story, and that's what makes them truly exceptional. The season's honours also extend to Cinesite's partner studios, including TRIXTER,, whose work on Predator: Badlands earned a spot on the Academy Awards longlist for Best Visual Effects, and Imaginarium, recognised for its performance capture work on Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Along with its colleagues at Imagine Engine who's work on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has received a nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program at this year's Children's & Family Emmy Awards. Cinesite Group is especially proud to see Andy Walker included among the nominated VFX Supervisors for his work on the project. Andy supervised the show while at Image Engine and has since transferred to Cinesite.

Image Engine
Dec 7th, 2022
2022 year in review | Image Engine VFX

Image Engine has received a 2022 VES Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature’ for its team’s visual effects work on ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’.

Image Engine
Jul 15th, 2022
Image Engine receives award 2022 Emmy Award

Image Engine is thrilled to receive a 2022 Emmy Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie’ for The Book of Boba Fett.

Image Engine
Jan 21st, 2022
Image Engine receives award VES Award

Image Engine is thrilled to receive a VES Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature’ for its team’s recent work on Venom: Let There Be Carnage.