Technical Operations Manager

 My client is looking for a Technical Operations Manager to join their growing London VFX office in the heart of Soho.

• A strong analytical trouble-shooter, especially under pressure
• Admirable leadership aptitude
• Excellent communication (written and verbal)
• Expert knowledge of Linux, both for servers and on the desktop
• Proficient managing OS X and Windows in an enterprise environment
• Supporting and integrating Maya, Nuke and Houdini for VFX production
• Demonstrable expertise of render farms and queue management software

• Supporting the creative studio to deliver material, e.g. images, to our clients
• Guiding dynamic individuals within the technical operations team and offering expert knowledge
• Working closely with the production team to determine technical needs and priorities
• Connecting with counterparts across the Method group to share insight and deliver a consistent approach and high standard across the studios
• Liaising with vendors to purchase and maintain software licenses, hardware such as workstations and monitors
• Ensuring that artists are supported to an exemplary standard
• Overseeing the render wrangling team to ensure the optimal productivity of the farm and to proffer insight in troubleshooting any issues

• Minimum of 5 years experience in a VFX production environment, Post Production, animation or gaming
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a technical team.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a project management or technical operations experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in analysing and understanding image structures, colour spaces and the technical standards that define them
• Minimum of 2 years in a leadership role with proven experience in team building, conflict resolution, and negotiation.  Ability to coach and mentor staff
• Undergraduate degree / diploma in a related technology discipline preferred

Systems Engineer
Location: Montreal - Film

Description

The Systems Engineer will ensure the ongoing smooth running of the production systems in our Montreal
office, with a view to developing the systems further as the business grows. Framestore operates in a faced
paced production environment and works with cutting edge technology.

To be successful in this mid-level role you will need 3 to 5 years’ experience with Linux System
administration within the post production industry or High Performance Computing field with a strong
academic background (computer science degree or similar).

You will also need to have self motivation and the flexibility to problem solve in a fast paced environment. It
is essential to have solid communication skills and an ability to work well in a team across multiple
international offices. It will be beneficial if you have experience working in a systems role in an office that
scales up in size.

Responsibilities

The duties of a system administrator are wide-ranging:

• System admins are charged with installing, supporting, and maintaining servers, storage file
systems and general network
• Ensuring systems run reliably and planning for and implementing upcoming requirements and
responding to service outages and other systems related problems
• Other duties include system performance optimization, scripting or light programming (Bash, CSH,
Perl, Python) project management for systems-related projects.
• In order to be successful for this position, applicant will need excellent troubleshooting skills in a
mixed environment, and ability to problem solves and works independently.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Linux System
• Knowledge of version control system (Git or any other)
• Knowledge of configuration management utilities such as Puppet or Chef
• Problem solving and debug skills

You will need to work in good coordination with Systems team in London and New York to maintain
consistency across Framestore offices.

Need to be autonomous, resourceful, be positive and calm in a production driven environment.

APPLY HERE : https://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH10/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FRAMESTORE&cws=39&rid=151

We have an excellent permanent Systems Administrator / Engineer opportunity to join a leading post-production facility based in Central London. As Systems Administrator / Engineer, you will be responsible for providing support, administration and maintenance across Windows, Linux (Red Hat) and Mac OS X platforms, including server and workstation implementation. 

Candidates will have excellent administration skills across Windows, RHEL and OS X operating systems, good knowledge of network services (DHCP, DNS) and strong BASH scripting skills. 

Any additional experience of LAMP stack configuration, LDAP / Kerberos configuration, Render Farm dispatch software (Tractor), Version Control systems (GIT, SVN), PHP / web programming, automated system deployment and management (PXE, Kickstart, Puppet), building RPMs or backup / archiving solutions (Tivoli) would be highly advantageous.

Applicants will ideally have worked in a similar capacity previously for a post-production house, a production studio, digital media agency or a software vendor and have strong experience of supporting post-production software or 2D/3D applications such as Maya, Flame, Smoke, Nuke, Realflow etc.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a leading facility in a tight-knit team and in a dynamic environment.

Highly competitive salary on offer dependent on experience.

If you feel you have the right skills and experience to be considered for this role and if you are already fully eligible to work in the UK, please apply now with a copy of your latest CV in a Microsoft Word format to: natasha@christy-media.com

MPC’s Advertising Global Production Teams are involved in many challenging projects involving new digital acquisition formats, ever changing delivery formats, cutting edge display platforms and the demand for increasing image frame rates & resolutions. Production staff rely on resource scheduling software to efficiently organise every aspect of a complex VFX Advertising project including Staff resources, VFX Suites, Equipment, Technical Operations, Library, Media Asset Tracking, Deliveries, Sundries, Purchase Orders, Costings and Accounts.

MPC runs third party resource management software based on a MySql database with it’s own API and reporting tools. This role is to both to deliver and coordinate the configuration, development and integration of MPC’s Resource Management Software in partnership with the software vendor.

Key responsibilities:

Reporting to the Director of Technology and Operations in London to co-ordinate the development managements and support of Third Party Resource Management Software.

Working closely with the Head of Production, Operations, Scheduling, Costings and Accounts to understand new requirements, liaise with software vendor, support and develop MPC’s Resource and scheduling management software.

In house development of business processes, reporting and analysis into third party software.

Extend support for resource management software to MPC Global sites when required.

Communicate MPC Advertising Scheduling Software development with Advertising production teams in line with MPC’s Global strategy.

Skills and Experience:

• Pro-active approach to solving problems and improving workflows
• Good business process and analytical skills
• Scripting skills (Python) to code Software modules for workflow efficiencies
• Understanding of PHP and Javascript based code
• MySQL, PHP, Javascript and the CodeIgniter and jQuery frameworks.
• Understanding of post production workflow and process
• Self-motivated to work with the Production, Technology, Operations and Accounts teams
• Personable with strong client facing skills
• Excellent prioritisation skills to manage resources and deadlines
• Clear focus on high quality
• Communicate effectively at all levels with the ability to tailor messages to audience, challenge with tact and demonstrate the ability to influence key members of staff
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure

MPC provides the very best in digital visual effects and post production for the international advertising, television and feature film industries.  MPC have been one of the global leaders in VFX for over 25 years and counting, with industry-leading facilities in London, Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, Bangalore, Amsterdam and Mexico.

The Technical Operations department provide support for the Advertising division in VT operations, data and render for 3D and 2D Assist (Flame & Smoke)

Purpose of the role:

The Tech Op will have gained a solid experience of production operations and will have a genuine interest in the technical aspects of high end post production.  The individual will need to have a passion for being part of a team delivering award winning moving pictures to the Advertising industry.  In addition the individual will enjoy working with the latest hardware and software technology in a demanding, changing environment on a diverse range of client projects.

The ideal candidate will have a good overview and working knowledge of all the following areas, and specialist knowledge in one area would be desirable: 

• VFX Operations
• VT Operations
• Data Operations
• Render Wrangling
• Encoding
• General library skills

• Good working knowledge of hardware systems such as VTR’s, compression and conversion tools, DDR’s and QC tools.
• Good understanding of software systems such as Flame/Smoke, Content Agent, FCP, Avid, Adobe Suite, Episode, Squeeze etc.
• An understanding and knowledge of Broadcast and Delivery standards and knowledge of the measurement and analysis of moving images.
• Good understanding and knowledge of scheduling and job sheet processes.
• Excellent client / customer service skills.

Person Specification

• Committed to Quality Control and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet delivery deadlines.
• Organised with the ability to prioritise workload.
• A team player who works well with others, providing support and guidance to external and internal clients and junior members of the team.
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to learning new skills.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Method Studios is looking for immediate 3-6 month contract senior systems administration assistance to help with a variety of local projects and support tasks across our expanding offering in the UK.  Qualified applicants will have prior significant experience within the VFX or Animation industry in the UK along with the assumed expertise that comes with that experience.

Render Watcher / Data I/O

Description:

The render wrangler role will primarily involve monitoring the render farm, communicating with production to assess and implement load balancing between projects and departments. They are also required to aid the artists to identify errors and to work with the technical support team to resolve any issues.

Additional duties will include working with the Editorial department in processing received data and helping the Production team in preparing data for delivery.

Experience and required skills:

• Basic Linux and Mac OS X system administration
• Bash and/or Python scripting
• Problem solving
• Good communication and teamwork
• Attention to detail, especially in a fast paced environment
• Able to work flexible hours

Method Studios is looking for a Technical Operations Manager to join their growing London office in the heart of Soho.

He or she is self-motivated, managing priorities of the technical operations team to meet the demands of this busy studio creating feature film VFX and concept art. The ideal candidate has the ability to identify and offer timely solutions to technical issues as they emerge. Being acquainted with existing and emerging technologies associated with computer graphics production is a must.

Knowledge and Skills

• A strong analytical trouble-shooter, especially under pressure
• Admirable leadership aptitude
• Excellent communication (written and verbal)
• Expert knowledge of Linux, both for servers and on the desktop
• Proficient managing OS X and Windows in an enterprise environment
• Supporting and integrating Maya, Nuke and Houdini for VFX production
• Demonstrable expertise of render farms and queue management software

Responsibilities

• Supporting the creative studio to deliver material, e.g. images, to our clients
• Guiding dynamic individuals within the technical operations team and offering expert knowledge
• Working closely with the production team to determine technical needs and priorities
• Connecting with counterparts across the Method group to share insight and deliver a consistent approach and high standard across the studios
• Liaising with vendors to purchase and maintain software licenses, hardware such as workstations and monitors
• Ensuring that artists are supported to an exemplary standard
• Overseeing the render wrangling team to ensure the optimal productivity of the farm and to proffer insight in troubleshooting any issues

Experience and Education

• Minimum of 5 years experience in a VFX production environment, Post Production, animation or gaming
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a technical team.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a project management or technical operations experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in analysing and understanding image structures, colour spaces and the technical standards that define them
• Minimum of 2 years in a leadership role with proven experience in team building, conflict resolution, and negotiation.  Ability to coach and mentor staff
• Undergraduate degree / diploma in a related technology discipline preferred

Method Studios is looking for two qualified senior systems engineers to work in our offices.  As the role is one that joins our team across locations, we are flexible to finding the right talent regardless of where they are located (LA, UK, Vancouver, NY).  If you fit the job, please contact us as we are looking to hire immediately.

Senior Systems Engineer

Job Description:

• Location: Various
• Job Code: xxx
• Job Category: Systems Engineering
• Career Level: Experienced (Non-Manager)
• Job Type: Full Time
• Travel:
• Summary:

Method Studios is currently searching for a Systems Engineer to join its Technology team. The primary focus of this position is in systems architecture and infrastructure engineering. The candidate will require expertise in systems administration and architecture along with foundational programming ability. Candidate will work to implement and improve Method's existing in-house infrastructure, as well as integrate and maintain various third-party systems and products. Candidates will contribute to the design of future architecture in addition to evaluating and integrating third-party solutions for hardware, software, and workflow for maintenance of operations across a multi-site world-class visual effects facility.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform in the following technical areas:

o   Systems installation, configuration and operation

o   Core network service (LDAP, DNS, Firewall, etc.) installation and administration

o   Hardware integration and deployment

o   Software installation

o   Configuration management (Puppet)

o   Networking

o   Incident response and management

o   Security

o   Setup and installation of Linux and open-source extension packages

• Develop internal systems tools and utilities for operating, monitoring, and reporting on studio infrastructure availability and utilization.
• Develop and maintain high-level digital security standards required in a post-production environment.
• Develop and maintain written operational procedures for routine network management processes.
• Administer servers and network services: LDAP, NIS, AD, DNS, DHCP, NFS
• Administer network switches, network storage and associated tape backup system, Virtual Server Infrastructure, Databases, User accounts, Email technologies, Firewall, Internet and Digital Security, User support and troubleshooting
• Analyze and tune systems for performance, throughput, resource utilization, high availability, and scalability
• Evaluate system components, software, networking infrastructure and hardware peripherals for reliability, performance, scalability and security
• Research in order to maintain a working knowledge of relevant hardware and software applications, including emerging technologies

Evaluate business requirements and make recommendations on systems design and hardware purchases to fulfill business needs.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required:

• Bachelors in Computer Science, Information Systems or comparable professional experience
• Minimum 4 years experience in a professional systems engineering environment
• Advanced knowledge of Linux server and desktop environments
• Solid knowledge of OSX and Windows platforms
• Programming experience with at least one of Python, Bash, C/C++, Java or similar
• Experience building and operating high availability and high scalability computing systems
• Experience with VMware or OpenStack virtual infrastructures
• Knowledge of SQL databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
• Ability and desire to learn new technologies as required
• Ability to solve problems unsupervised and recommend proactive technical solutions
• Positive can-do attitude combined with the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Excellent communication and organizational skill with strong attention to detail

Optional Skills that would be a plus:

• Experience working in Film, TV, and/or post-production industry
• Experience in the installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of key software packages including: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Massive, RenderMan, Vray, Mental Ray, Mari, SynthEyes, PFTrack, Silhouette, Flame, Flare, Smoke, RV, and Hiero
• Experience related to disaster recovery, business continuity, backup systems, tape libraries, SAN, and NAS knowledge

Bardel Entertainment is recruiting for a Head of Systems.

Reporting to the CTO, the 'Head of Systems' is a hands-on role which is responsible for establishing and managing the development and support of Bardel's Systems and IT Infrastructure.

Objective:
Work within the Technology department to build and maintain transparent infrastructure and IT solutions 
Work with the CTO to implement long term infrastructure strategies and goals.
Devise systems, processes and procedures to increase overall team and production efficiency

Leadership:
Provide strong team leadership and mentorship to increase team productivity
Motivate the team through demonstrated leadership ability and a positive presence.
Encourage collaborative team approach
Clearly establish performance expectations for direct reports
Ability to effectively manage small teams, making the most of individual strengths and ensuring staff retention.

Requirements:
5+ years as a technical lead within the Media and Entertainment industry (VFX, Animation, Gaming).
Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
Experience with Bash, Python, MySQL, etc.
Strong knowledge of networking architecture and administration as well as enterprise storage subsystems
Experience in heterogeneous computing environments
Excellent communication skills.

To Apply:
1. Send your email to jobs@bardel.ca
2. Include the text 'Head of Systems' in your subject
3. Attach your resume in PDF or ASCII format

Job Description: We are currently seeking a full-time Systems Administrator, collaboratively responsible for the design, implementation and support for the maintenance and development of the infrastructure. The chosen candidate will be part of a team charged with provision, installation/configuration, operation, and maintenance of all production and corporate hardware and software as well as planning and executing medium to large scale projects for subsidiaries and new business unit initiatives. This position reports directly to the Operations Manager.

Type: Full-Time Employee
Salary: Based on experience; Medical/Dental benefits available; 2 weeks’ vacation
Hours of Operation: On Call; Occasional weekends; Flexible
Start Date: Immediately

Requirements:

Bachelor’s or College degree in a relevant field OR comparable on the job experience in technical operations or network administration.
Minimum of 5 years of experience with network systems or in a related IT field.
Candidate must have demonstrated experience with a proactive/preventative approach to systems maintenance.
Preference given to candidates with experience supporting multi-media (TV, film, and web), special effects, CG, Adobe and animation production environments.
The ideal candidate will be interested in current trends, technology advances, new products, and best practices in production environments, enterprise level networks, and server systems.
Working knowledge of high performance hardware technologies and systems support – configuration, troubleshooting, performance tuning, security, and general maintenance.
Clear understanding of core Internet and networking protocols (DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, FTP, ARP, HTTP, HTTP/S, IPv6, and SSH) IP communication, packet structure and troubleshooting.
Working knowledge of Cisco firewalls and different router/switch technologies and a general understanding of configuration, deployment and implementation of these technologies.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server technologies including Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, Exchange, SQL, MYSQL, PHP, and Windows & Linux desktop operating systems.
Experience in deploying, configuring and supporting Virtual Environments like VMware.
Knowledge of HNAS storage solutions is an asset.

This is a position that requires a team-player who is motivated, stress-resistant, proactive, and has the ability and desire to provide outstanding support to the network, servers, workstations, and end users. There will be heavy lifting involved as required. The chosen candidate must be willing to participate in the “on-call” rotation and occasional weekend maintenance routine.

Keywords: Systems Administrator, Windows, Linux, Adobe, Cisco, IT, Animation, networks

Must be a Canadian citizen and have a valid Ontario driver’s license.

How to Apply: Please send your resume to: jobs@mercuryfilmworks.com and reference: SA-1113 on the front and in the subject line of all submissions.

All interested applicants should email their resumes to recruiting@mrxfx.com (Toronto) and/or nycrecruiting@mrxfx.com (NYC) with the subject reading “Systems Administrator". 

Job Responsibilities:

• Administration and support of Linux (CentOS primarily), Windows (Windows 7 and Server 2003/2008) and Macintosh desktop computers, involving both hardware and software troubleshooting
• Design, specify and deploy servers and storage systems,
• Familiarity with supporting a large network infrastructure, using various switches and routers,
• Ensure reliable operation of critical IT systems,
• Provide support to the users, troubleshooting issues as they come up on a day to day basis
• Document IT processes,
• Collaborate with other members of the technical department supporting the production of feature films,
• Offer input into existing technologies and always work towards making a more robust technical infrastructure.

Required Skills:

• 2 or more years of experience as a systems administrator in a heterogeneous environment,
• VFX/Multimedia industry experience required,
• Experience supporting 2D (Nuke primarily) and 3D (Maya and Houdini primarily) applications,
• Strong familiarity with BlueArc, or Isilon, or both
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of training users in complex topics and interacting positively with users,
• License management, understanding FlexLM, Sesi, and RLM licensing models
• Independent problem-solving, self-directed personality,
• Strong experience in Linux system administration, troubleshooting, and management, and being able to use available tools to diagnose and solve problems
• Strong understanding of the following networking protocols and services: DHCP, DNS, NFS, CIFS/Samba
• Able to read and write Python, Bash, C Shell, or combination of both
• Previous use of Nagios, Cacti and Ganglia
• Experience with Autodesk Flame
• Experience with Windows Active Directory

Job Description: We are currently seeking a full-time Linux Systems Administrator, collaboratively responsible for the design, implementation and support for the maintenance and development of the infrastructure. The chosen candidate will be part of a team charged with provision, installation/configuration, operation, and maintenance of all production and corporate hardware and software as well as planning and executing medium to large scale projects for subsidiaries and new business unit initiatives. This position reports directly to the Operations Manager.

Type: Full-Time Employee
Salary: Based on Experience; Medical/Dental benefits available, 2 weeks’ vacation
Hours of Operation: On Call; Occasional Weekends; Flexible
Start Date: Immediately

Requirements:

Bachelor’s or College degree in a relevant field OR comparable on the job experience in technical operations or network administration.
Minimum of 5 years of experience with network systems or in a related IT field.
Preference given to candidates with experience supporting multi-media (TV, film, and web), special effects, CG, Adobe and animation production environments.
Strong working knowledge of Red Hat Enterprise, Fedora, BSD
Experience with deployment of Linux desktop in a business environment.
The ideal candidate will be interested in current trends, technology advances, new products, and best practices in production environments, enterprise level networks, and server systems.
Working knowledge of high performance hardware technologies and systems support – configuration, troubleshooting, performance tuning, security, and general maintenance.
Clear understanding of core Internet and networking protocols (DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, FTP, ARP, HTTP, HTTP/S, IPv6, and SSH) IP communication, packet structure and troubleshooting.
Strong knowledge of Cisco firewalls and different router/switch technologies and a general understanding of configuration, deployment and implementation of these technologies.
Experience in deploying, configuring and supporting Virtual Environments like VMware.
Working knowledge of SQL, MYSQL, and PHP.
Knowledge of Microsoft Windows technologies.
Knowledge of HNAS storage solutions is an asset.

This is a position that requires a team-player who is motivated, stress-resistant, proactive, and has the ability and desire to provide outstanding support to the network, servers, workstations, and end users. There will be heavy lifting involved as required. The chosen candidate must be willing to participate in the “on-call” rotation and occasional weekend maintenance routine.

Keywords: Systems Administrator, Windows, Linux, Adobe, Cisco, IT, Animation, networks

Must be a Canadian citizen and have a valid Ontario driver’s license.

How to Apply: Please send your resume to: jobs@mercuryfilmworks.com and reference: LSA-1113 on the front and in the subject line of all submissions.

Method Studios is an award-winning, international visual effects group with facilities in Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York, London, Sydney, and Melbourne. As an artist-driven company known for its creativity, Method Studios services high-end feature film, commercial, television, games, and motion graphics clients in the global marketplace. Built around an exceptional team of VFX professionals, our international facilities provide a full range of services including conceptual design, look development, on-set supervision, 3D animation/CGI, matte painting, compositing, and finishing. With its global reach accented by its boutique accessibility, the company has the capacity to service its clientele wherever production is situated.

Nov 6, 2013 update:  Please apply with < strong>a cover letter and resume by in dicating why you are the best c andidate for the job to Nancy Hogan at Christine.Edwards@methodstudios.com.  We would like to fill this role as soon as possible. 

The System Administrator has a solid track record providing technical support to staff and ensuring smooth daily operations within a complex 24/7 environment.  Organized, technically sound and credibl e, the System Administrator is a flexible team player an d a hands-on problem solver.

Possessing a sense of urgency, the System Administ rator demonstrates an ability to work within a fast-paced and collaborative environment, and has excellent skills in building relationships, communicating effectively, and serving the ne eds of others. Most importantly, the System Administrator is responsive and has a pr opensity to get things done.

DutiesandResponsibilities:

The primary focus of this role is to ensure the dail y operations of the facility run smoothly by assisting staff in resolving problems a nd by maintaining, modifying and installing new systems to enable cost effective and seamless operations.  This position reports Technical Operations Manager.  This is an inter mediate role and applicants must have extensive Linux experience in a studio production facility.< /p> < p> Duties include:

• Support the office networks, servers, workstatio ns and software that the company uses.  This support encompasses repair s, maintenance, upgrades and new installations.  Primarily the work focuses on the su pport of the VFX division of the company (Method Studios Vancouver).
• Help staff with daily operations of these systems a nd software packages and suggest changes to make these systems more respon sive to staff requirements.
• Image and Deployment of new workstations/servers
• Document networ ks, systems and procedures.
• Implementing ba ckup a nd archive procedures

ExperienceandEducation:

• Experience with Linux, Mac a nd Windows computer systems
• Scripting knowled ge Bash, Python, Perl, Ruby
• Networking knowledge (TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, LDAP, NAS, SAN)
• Knowledge of computer graphics, rendering, composi ting, 2D and 3D is an asset
• Undergraduate degree / diploma in a related technolo gy discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 4 years of experience working in an enterprise t echnology environment supporting Linux/UNIX and Mac operating systems.
• Experience in a production environment, VFX, Post Production, animation or gaming is essential.

Natalie