{"id":881941,"url":"https://alion.io/job/swayboxstudios-lead-3d-tracking-artist","title":"Lead 3D Tracking Artist","company":{"id":688022,"name":"Swaybox Studios","domain":"swayboxstudios.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/swayboxstudios","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":null},"role":"Design","role_family":"Design","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["New Orleans, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":124000,"max_usd":226000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":225},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Maya","optional":false},{"name":"PyQt","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-10T22:29:09Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-13","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T22:45:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":78,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":78},"description":"Why join Swaybox Studios?\nSwaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves’ 6th and Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you’ll help bring bold creative visions to life through hands-on artistry and performance. This is your chance to be a part of a production that’s equal parts innovative and unforgettable.\nLead 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist\nLocation: New Orleans, LA - Onsite\nStudio: Swaybox Studios\nDepartment: VFX\nReports To: VFX Supervisor and CG Supervisor\nEmployment Type: Full Time\nWhy join Swaybox Studios?\nSwaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you’ll play a key role in supporting the artistry and coordination that bring bold visions to life. This is your chance to help guide a production that’s equal parts innovative and unforgettable.\nJob Summary:\nSwaybox Studios is seeking an experienced Lead 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist to guide the artistic and technical execution of our Tracking department while remaining hands-on throughout production. In addition to solving complex tracking challenges, you'll mentor artists, establish departmental best practices, review work for quality and consistency, and collaborate closely with the VFX Supervisor, Production, and Technical Directors to ensure successful delivery.\nThis role will also provide leadership for distributed teams, helping coordinate work across both in-house artists and external vendors when applicable. You'll ensure consistent quality, clear communication, and adherence to production standards regardless of where the work is being completed.\nYou'll help bridge the gap between live-action footage and CG integration by extracting precise camera, object, and performance data from filmed plates, ensuring that environments, puppets, and digital elements align seamlessly within our hybrid production pipeline.\nThe ideal candidate combines exceptional tracking expertise with strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, thriving in an environment where collaboration, innovation, and creative excellence go hand in hand.\nThis is a studio-based role working onsite in New Orleans, Louisiana.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead the Tracking / Matchmove department by providing artistic and technical direction, mentoring artists, reviewing work, and maintaining the department's quality standards.\nProvide leadership, guidance, and constructive feedback to both in-house artists and remote or outsourced vendor teams, ensuring consistent artistic quality, technical accuracy, and adherence to production expectations.\nCoordinate external vendor work when applicable by reviewing deliveries, communicating actionable feedback, and partnering with Production to ensure milestones and deadlines are met.\nPerform complex 3D camera, object, and facial tracking using live-action plates with or without lidar scans, witness cameras, or on-set measurements.\nEstablish and maintain tracking best practices, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across the department.\nSolve highly challenging shots through a combination of automated and hand-keyed techniques when standard solutions are insufficient.\nDeliver production-ready camera solves, object tracks, rotomation, STMaps, and other tracking deliverables for Layout, Animation, Lighting, and Compositing.\nCreate accurate rotomation of CG character rigs to match puppet and performer movement when required.\nReview artist work, identify opportunities for improvement, and help troubleshoot difficult technical or creative challenges.\nPartner closely with the VFX Supervisor, Technical Directors, and Production to prioritize work, identify risks, and keep the department aligned with production schedules.\nCollaborate with Pipeline and Technical Directors to improve tracking workflows, develop new tools, and identify opportunities for greater efficiency.\nCreate and maintain departmental documentation, workflow standards, and onboarding materials that support consistent quality across the team.\nChampion a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement by encouraging knowledge sharing, mentoring teammates, and leading by example.\nMaintain momentum in a fast-paced production environment while balancing quality, efficiency, and evolving production priorities.\nRequired Qualifications\n5+ years of experience as a Matchmove, Tracking, or Layout Artist in feature film, episodic, or high-end VFX productions.\nPrevious experience leading artists, supervising sequences, or serving as a departmental lead on a production.\nDemonstrated experience coordinating work across in-house teams and remote or outsourced artists while maintaining consistent quality, communication, and production standards.\nExpert understanding of matchmoving principles, including camera solving, lens distortion, focal lengths, rolling shutter, parallax, film back calculations, and real-world camera behavior.\nExpert proficiency with 3DEqualizer and Autodesk Maya.\nStrong experience tracking environments, props, and facial performances using KeenTools or comparable technologies.\nExperience producing high-quality rotomation for character animation pipelines.\nWorking knowledge of Nuke to create slap comps and validate tracking solutions prior to downstream handoff.\nStrong understanding of cinematic language, layout principles, camera operation, and on-set data acquisition workflows.\nExceptional troubleshooting skills with a proven ability to solve technically challenging shots under tight production deadlines.\nExcellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to mentor artists, provide clear feedback, and collaborate effectively across multiple disciplines.\nStrong organizational skills with the ability to balance hands-on production work alongside leadership responsibilities.\nAbility to remain calm and solutions-focused while navigating shifting priorities and helping the team successfully manage the dynamic pace of feature production.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with PFTrack, Syntheyes, MMSolver, or other industry-standard tracking software.\nFamiliarity with performance capture, photogrammetry, lidar processing, and witness camera workflows.\nWorking knowledge of animation, rigging, and stylized character performance pipelines.\nExperience collaborating with Technical Directors to improve tracking tools and production workflows.\nScripting experience using Python, PySide, PyQT, or MEL for workflow automation and internal tool development.\nExperience with ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking) or similar production management software.\nExperience supporting hybrid productions that combine live-action, puppetry, CG animation, and visual effects.\nAt Swaybox Studios, we believe that great storytelling comes from diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, talents, and identities.\nWe do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.\nSwaybox Studios also complies with applicable Louisiana laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are dedicated to fostering a creative, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.\nAt Swaybox Studios, we believe that great storytelling comes from diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, talents, and identities.\nWe do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.\nSwaybox Studios also complies with applicable Louisiana laws governing non-discrimination in employment. 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