Technical Project Manager

Position Overview

• We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Technical Project Manager to spearhead the design, implementation, and operational transition of an on-premise visual effects (VFX) render farm.
• This pivotal role requires a blend of project management expertise, technical acumen in computer graphics and high-performance computing, and strong leadership to deliver a state-of-the-art rendering solution that empowers our creative pipeline.
• As the Technical Project Manager, you will collaborate cross-functionally with IT, software development, creative teams, and third-party vendors to ensure the new render farm is delivered on time, within budget, and exceeds performance expectations.
• Your strategic vision, organizational skills, and technical insights will be critical to driving the project from inception to successful deployment and ongoing support.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Strategy

• Develop a comprehensive project plan outlining scope, objectives, timelines, deliverables, and resource requirements for the render farm implementation.
• Work with stakeholders to define project success metrics and risk management strategies.
• Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses to ensure optimal solution design.
• Stakeholder Coordination & Communication:
• Serve as the primary point of contact between technical teams, creative leads, executive management, and external partners.
• Facilitate regular project meetings, status updates, and documentation to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Translate complex technical requirements into actionable objectives for non-technical stakeholders.

Technical Leadership

• Oversee the technical evaluation and selection of render management software, hardware, and supporting infrastructure.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and security best practices are incorporated into the render farm s architecture.
• Coordinate with IT and engineering teams to integrate the render farm with existing pipelines, storage solutions, and network infrastructure.
• Facilitate performance benchmarking and optimization throughout the deployment process.
• Vendor & Resource Management:
• Source and manage relationships with hardware and software vendors, negotiating contracts, warranties, and SLAs.
• Coordinate procurement, logistics, and installation of all necessary render farm components.
• Manage external consultants and contractors, ensuring work is delivered to specification and schedule.

Risk & Issue Management

• Proactively identify project risks, technical challenges, and bottlenecks; develop and execute mitigation plans.
• Maintain a project risk register and ensure issues are tracked and resolved efficiently.

Testing, Validation & Documentation

• Lead acceptance testing, validation, and quality assurance processes for the render farm solution.
• Document system architecture, workflow integration, and operational procedures.
• Ensure comprehensive training plans and user manuals are developed for end-users and support teams.
• Deployment & Operational Handover:
• Oversee the rollout and initial operation of the render farm, ensuring minimal disruption to creative workflows.
• Provide ongoing support during the transition period and facilitate knowledge transfer to in-house teams.
• Continuously evaluate and refine workflows to maximize efficiency and performance post-deployment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Master s degree or relevant certifications (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, etc.) are highly desirable.
• 5+ years of technical project management experience, preferably in the visual effects, animation, or high-performance computing industries.
• Proven track record delivering complex infrastructure projects, ideally involving on-premise solutions.
• Solid understanding of computer graphics, rendering workflows, and render management software (e.g., Deadline, Qube!, OpenCue).
• Experience with storage and networking technologies, server virtualization, and system integration principles.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to facilitate collaboration across diverse technical and creative teams.
• Demonstrated vendor management and contract negotiation expertise.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Preferred Experience and Skills
• Hands-on experience with the deployment and operation of large-scale render farms for VFX or animation studios.
• Familiarity with industry-standard 3D software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender, Nuke) and renderers (e.g., Arnold, V-Ray, RenderMan).
• Experience with containerization, orchestration, and cloud-hybrid render solutions.
• Knowledge of automation tools and scripting languages (Python, Bash, etc.).
• Understanding of security best practices, data governance, and intellectual property protection within media pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change management and adoption in creative or technical environments.