Facial Modeller

Role overview

Wētā FX is looking for an experienced Facial Modeller to join its Wellington team. This is an in-studio position based at the Wellington hub. The ideal candidate will already be living in Wellington or be willing to relocate, must be eligible to work in New Zealand, and should be ready to begin work as soon as possible.

Team mission

The Facial Models team creates convincing facial puppets for motion teams working on both photoreal and stylised productions. The role involves close collaboration with Character Modellers, Facial TDs, and Animators to help shape the performance and appearance of the studio’s award-winning characters and creatures.

Key responsibilities

You will be expected to build accurate facial forms and expressions using performance video, 2D reference, and scan data. The work requires strong production experience and the ability to translate facial anatomy into believable digital assets.

Requirements

• A strong demo reel showing detailed facial work, solid knowledge of facial anatomy, and realistic expression sculpting
• At least 3 years of production experience focused on character faces
• Hands-on experience sculpting faces and creating facial blendshapes using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS)
• Good understanding of facial musculature and how those muscles function
• Production experience using Maya
• Ability to interpret scan data from actor performances and turn it into key shapes for a character or actor facial puppet
• Comfort using Linux desktop environments and common system commands for day-to-day work
• Ability to work independently, take direction well, and contribute positively as part of a team
• Strong problem-solving and organisational ability with the discipline to work to deadlines
• Clear, confident communication skills

Additional useful experience

These are not mandatory, but would be valuable:

• Shot sculpting experience in a fast-paced feature film setting
• Experience with rigging and geometric deformation work
• Familiarity with ZBrush, Mudbox, Cyslice, and UV layout
• Ability to script in MEL and Python

Workplace and values

Wētā FX says it values diversity and aims to create an environment where crew members feel welcomed, respected, supported, and appreciated. The company emphasizes open-mindedness, encourages people to be themselves, and works toward a recruitment process free from discrimination.

Recruitment support

If you need any adjustments to make the hiring process easier, you can contact the recruitment team at [email protected].

Location

Wellington, New Zealand