Virtual Production Supervisor
3 days ago
Hanover Park
Job Title: Virtual Production Supervisor Location: Hanover Park, IL Company: Forge Virtual Studios Job Summary Forge Virtual Studios is home to one of the Midwest’s most advanced LED virtual production stages and we are looking for a Virtual Production Supervisor who can bring it all to life. This role is for someone who is deeply technical but people first. A systems thinker who can architect align and execute complex real time workflows across Unreal Engine LED walls and camera tracking systems. You are not here to just push buttons. You are here to own the pipeline, lead the room, and guide cross functional teams through a rapidly evolving medium. You may not be the one doing every technical task but you are the one who makes sure it all works. You know when to step in, when to delegate, and how to translate between departments. This is a bridge role: between creative and technical between vision and execution between chaos and control. While your primary focus will be on virtual production at Forge Virtual Studios this role is in partnership with Charter & Co, and will contribute to high end productions led by Charter & Co. – especially when technical planning LED integration or complex environments are involved. Key Responsibilities Technical Workflow Leadership • Lead Forge’s virtual production workflow from pre-visualization through final delivery., • Oversee LED volume setup, pixel mapping, color pipeline, latency, sync, and system calibration., • Configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot camera tracking systems as needed (e.g., RedSpy, OptiTrack) and lens profiles., • Partner with Unreal Engine artists and operators to ensure 3D environments are optimized for LED use., • Manage all Forge and Charter & Co gear, including hardware such as servers, panels and tracking gear, and software such as Unreal plugins and licensing. While also maintaining cameras, lights, lens and additional gear inventory., • Develop technical documentation, checklists, and repeatable systems for consistent execution., • Manage contract teams as needed to help execute productions on LED volumes., • Stay up-to-date on emerging tools and techniques in real-time production and ICVFX. Pre-Production & Planning • Participate early in project planning to assess feasibility and technical needs., • Collaborate with producers and creative leads to translate treatments into executable virtual scenes., • Coordinate with Virtual Art Department on scope, performance, and asset requirements., • Lead pre-light testing of virtual scenes, playback systems, and tracking hardware., • Educate internal teams and clients on what’s possible and what’s not with virtual production. On-Set Technical Direction • Act as technical lead during LED shoots, overseeing scene playback, tracking calibration, and system health., • Work alongside directors, DPs, and producers to balance creative intent with technical realities., • Manage real-time troubleshooting of Unreal rendering, sync issues, or scene transitions., • Ensure safety protocols and technical standards are followed during production., • Provide hands-on operation of systems if needed, but primarily lead a tech team or freelance crew. Post Handoff & Asset Management • Facilitate clear technical handoff to post-production, including tracking logs, environment builds, and camera data., • Assist post teams in interpreting in-camera assets and ensuring they match delivery specs., • Create and maintain documentation for each production to support learnings and refinement., • Support hybrid workflows when projects require both ICVFX and traditional VFX integration. What Makes You a Great Fit • Deep Technical Expertise, • 4+ years in virtual production, real-time rendering, VFX tech, or LED volume environments., • Proficient in Unreal Engine 5 for real-time scene deployment and optimization., • Strong understanding of camera tracking systems, frustum alignment, and nDisplay., • Familiarity with LED volume hardware, media servers (e.g., Vū, Disguise), and color workflows., • Capable of translating creative goals into scene builds, technical diagrams, or operator briefings., • Strong Interpersonal & Leadership Skills, • Excellent communicator who can confidently align creative, technical, and client teams., • Comfortable leading freelancers, directing operators, and working with high-level stakeholders., • Able to act as both translator and advocate across departments — from sales to VAD to post., • Calm, solutions-first mindset under pressure, with an instinct for unblocking teams quickly., • Passionate about building systems and mentoring others to scale processes beyond yourself. Bonus Points For • Familiarity with DMX lighting control, NovaStar processing, LED color management., • Experience developing internal tools or tech workflows for LED or VFX teams., • Background in post/VFX pipelines or production coordination., • Ability to prototype inside Unreal (Blueprints, lighting, basic scene layout)., • Prior experience conducting client demos, tests, or facility tours. What We Offer • Competitive salary with performance-based incentives., • Full benefits package including health, dental, and vision., • Creative leadership role in one of the region’s most advanced virtual production studios, • Hands on access to LED volume and cutting edge real time tools., • Close collaboration with producers, directors, and technical artists., • The chance to shape Forge’s pipeline team and client experience from the ground up., • A collaborative low ego team that values experimentation and excellence.