--- title: 'Senior Crowds Technical Artist at Skydance' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-crowds-technical-artist-skydance-madrid-pz0fcpq1n942' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Senior Crowds Technical Artist at Skydance - **Company:** Skydance - **Location:** Madrid, Spain - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-07-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/skydance/ba65408a-7944-4ab0-af68-e57898d34792 ## Job description Skydance offers a dynamic, inclusive, and ever-evolving culture where innovative ideas are welcomed, and growth fostered. The partnership between unique creativity and technological advancements are demonstrated within each pillar of the company. At the heart of it all is a commitment to boldly entertaining and relevant storytelling. While all Animation studios look to hire people who are creative and hard-working, Skydance Animation is specifically looking for pioneers who seek to push the limits of what the world’s most collaborative art form can achieve, and to give those pioneers the space and the resources to build a new studio that’s doing something different. For more information on how we process your personal information, please review the Privacy policy located at https://privacy.paramount.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. --- As a Senior Crowds Technical Artist, you will assist the Crowds Supervisor with technical and creative approaches to an assigned sequence, creating master crowd rigs and deploying them to the team of crowd artists for production shots. ## Responsibilities - Sets up crowd assets and HDAs within the existing Houdini pipeline and tests new procedures and workflows under the artistic supervision of the Crowds Lead and Supervisor. - Creates a range of crowd agents (bipeds/quadrupeds and vehicles) for efficient simulation. - Applies and executes crowd behaviors on shots with the highest quality standards. - Has strong technical problem-solving skills including the ability to troubleshoot pipeline issues and the ability to resolve shot-specific technical challenges independently. - Keeps up on current artistic methodologies and on technology trends and tools that best suit the production and the company in the development of a stronger creative and technical environment. - Works together with the team providing them with support, guidance and instruction in areas that contribute towards their artistic and professional growth. - Follows the Supervisor’s and Lead's guidance. - Provides hands-on assistance to the Crowd Animators. - Gives feedback to the department TD’s to continue the development of tools and workflows associated with crowdfunding. ## Requirements - 5+ years in VFX or animation industries. - 3+ years in the animation industry. - Excellent knowledge of Houdini Crowd system. - Working knowledge of Maya, Houdini in production environments. - Knowledge of procedural rendering in Renderman. - Experience in creating crowds for animated films. - Deep understanding of the entire CG pipeline, from assets to lighting. - High English level desirable. - Spanish desirable. ## About Skydance ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Skydance Media is a diversified independent studio creating high-quality live-action, animated, interactive, and sports content for global audiences. - **Entity Type**: Private (raised $275M in strategic capital from RedBird Capital Partners, CJ ENM, and others) - **Headquarters**: Santa Monica, California, USA (with additional offices in Madrid, Spain and San Carlos, CA) - **Founded**: 2010 - **Founders**: David Ellison ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Film & Television Production, Animation, Interactive Entertainment (Video Games/VR), Sports Media - **Target customers**: B2B (streaming platforms like Apple TV+, Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+; theatrical distributors) and B2C (consumers of movies, TV series, games) - **Mission / Purpose**: To create high-quality content and engaging experiences for a global audience, pushing the forefront of where entertainment is heading. ## Products & Services - **Live-Action Film & TV**: Produces blockbuster franchises (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible, Terminator) and popular TV series (Reacher, Foundation, Grace and Frankie, Jack Ryan). Distributed through partnerships with Paramount, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+. - **Skydance Animation**: Full-length animated features (Luck, upcoming Spellbound) and series (WondLa). Studios in Los Angeles and Madrid with over 350 animation colleagues. - **Skydance Interactive**: VR/immersive game development (The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Archangel). Also licenses IP for other developers. Hybrid-remote team across California, Texas, Washington. - **Skydance New Media**: Story-focused interactive experiences using real-time CGI, led by industry icon Amy Hennig. First announced project is a Marvel action-adventure game. - **Skydance Sports**: Produces premium sports documentaries and series (Good Rivals, Air). Partnered with NFL Films for multi-platform sports programming. - **Nocturna**: A horror label launched with Andy & Barbara Muschietti for high-quality horror features. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: Raised $275M in strategic capital (led by RedBird Capital Partners and CJ ENN, announced in 2021). Over 500 employees across two continents. - **Notable Investors / Partners**: RedBird Capital Partners, CJ ENM / Studio Dragon, Tencent, Paramount Pictures, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, NFL Films. - **Growth Signals**: Became the first independent studio to reach #1 on two streamers in the same weekend (The Family Plan on Apple TV+, Reacher S2 on Prime Video). Rapid expansion into animation, sports, and interactive divisions. Partnerships with Marvel Entertainment for a AAA game. ## Competitive Advantages - **Independence**: As an independent studio, Skydance retains creative control and can move quickly across multiple platforms. - **Multi-Platform Reach**: Simultaneously produces for theatrical, streaming, TV, gaming, and VR, maximizing IP value. - **Top-Tier Partnerships**: Long-term distribution deals with every major streamer and studio, ensuring global audience reach. - **Artist-Driven Culture**: Attracts visionary filmmakers (Ben Affleck, Amy Hennig, Vicky Jenson) and fosters a collaborative environment. ## Strategic Focus - **Expand Animation & Interactive**: Building a world-class animation studio and pioneering VR/immersive gaming. - **Deepen Sports Content**: Leveraging NFL partnership and expanding into premium sports documentaries. - **Grow APAC Presence**: Through CJ ENM partnership, collaborating on content for Asian audiences. - **Horror Label (Nocturna)**: Tapping into the high-demand horror genre. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: “A rising tide lifts all boats” – collaborative, artist-driven environment where every team member is valued. Emphasis on creativity and teamwork. - **Work Model**: Hybrid and on-site roles available. Headquarters in Santa Monica (Film, TV, Interactive, Corporate). Animation offices in Miracle Mile (LA) and Madrid. New Media in San Carlos, CA. Interactive team is hybrid-remote across multiple states. - **Benefits**: Comprehensive medical, mental wellness resources. Union benefits for animation staff (IATSE). Paid internships offered (Fall, Winter, Summer) with hands-on experience and access to top leadership. - **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on iconic franchises (Marvel, Terminator, Mission: Impossible), cutting-edge VR, and original animation. Access to industry veterans and top-tier distribution partners. ## Sources 1. [skydance.com/about](https://skydance.com/about/) 2. [skydance.com/careers](https://skydance.com/careers/) 3. [jobs.lever.co/skydance](https://jobs.lever.co/skydance) 4. [skydance.com/faq](https://skydance.com/faq/) 5. [skydance.com/teams](https://skydance.com/teams/) ## Other roles at Skydance - [VP, Head of Strategy & Business Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-head-of-strategy-business-operations-skydance-los-angeles-fsfdzfe4vbq9) — Los Angeles, CA - [Production Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/production-trainee-skydance-madrid-b7aavaakjb7s) — Madrid, Spain - [Executive Assistant, Talent Acquisition & Human Resources](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-talent-acquisition-human-resources-skydance-santa-monica-jf0gbs5zhj66) — Santa Monica, CA - [Pipeline Engineer Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/pipeline-engineer-trainee-skydance-madrid-jvknygn2tg58) — Madrid, Spain - [Environment Set Dressing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/environment-set-dressing-trainee-skydance-madrid-hefj5xbfqtt6) — Madrid, Spain - [Environment Surfacing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/environment-surfacing-trainee-skydance-madrid-ksq63b8xbjjh) — Madrid, Spain - [Character Surfacing Trainee](https://feeny.ai/job/character-surfacing-trainee-skydance-madrid-ap6mp424cc3n) — Madrid, Spain - [Junior Environment Surfacing Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-environment-surfacing-artist-skydance-madrid-vqnvjmqmrk75) — Madrid, Spain - [Office Receptionist](https://feeny.ai/job/office-receptionist-skydance-santa-monica-56f1dn8cc95b) — Santa Monica, CA - [Lead Producer, Publishing (6-months Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-producer-publishing-6-months-contract-skydance-california-smrhaa9vf040) — California