Lead 3D Tracking Artist

Why join Swaybox Studios? Swaybox 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. Lead 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist Location: New Orleans, LA - Onsite Studio: Swaybox Studios Department: VFX Reports To: VFX Supervisor and CG Supervisor Employment Type: Full Time Why join Swaybox Studios? Swaybox 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. Job Summary: Swaybox 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. This 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. You'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. The 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. This is a studio-based role working onsite in New Orleans, Louisiana. Key Responsibilities Lead the Tracking / Matchmove department by providing artistic and technical direction, mentoring artists, reviewing work, and maintaining the department's quality standards. Provide 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. Coordinate external vendor work when applicable by reviewing deliveries, communicating actionable feedback, and partnering with Production to ensure milestones and deadlines are met. Perform complex 3D camera, object, and facial tracking using live-action plates with or without lidar scans, witness cameras, or on-set measurements. Establish and maintain tracking best practices, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across the department. Solve highly challenging shots through a combination of automated and hand-keyed techniques when standard solutions are insufficient. Deliver production-ready camera solves, object tracks, rotomation, STMaps, and other tracking deliverables for Layout, Animation, Lighting, and Compositing. Create accurate rotomation of CG character rigs to match puppet and performer movement when required. Review artist work, identify opportunities for improvement, and help troubleshoot difficult technical or creative challenges. Partner closely with the VFX Supervisor, Technical Directors, and Production to prioritize work, identify risks, and keep the department aligned with production schedules. Collaborate with Pipeline and Technical Directors to improve tracking workflows, develop ne…