IT Lead (Gaming / Animation) - Thinkingbox

Who We Are

Hi! We're Thinkingbox, a brand experience agency shaping the future through craft and curiosity. Our team brings together unique perspectives in design, technology, and strategy to push boundaries and create innovative work for our clients. We're a curious bunch that loves to think big, learn continuously, and collaborate. We love our culture and the natural collaboration that happens in and around our offices, from hanging out with our office dogs to fun weekly events, we maintain a vibrant work environment. However, for 4 weeks a year we encourage our people to explore the world. Try working from another office or even the beaches of Mexico and expand your worldview, then bring that experience back to the team.

The Opportunity

As we scale our operations, we're looking for an IT Lead to build and maintain a robust infrastructure that supports our team of 60+ artists, animators, and developers in our Paris office. If you have a background in gaming, VFX, or animation, are experienced in studio infrastructure, and thrive in a fast-paced creative environment, we want to hear from you! As our IT Lead, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the studio's IT infrastructure, ensuring a seamless workflow for production teams. You will lead network architecture, storage solutions, cloud integration, and security protocols while providing hands-on support when needed.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and implement a scalable IT infrastructure to support animation workflows, including high-performance render farms, network storage, and cloud-based solutions.
• Manage servers, workstations, and networking for a hybrid (on-premise & cloud) production pipeline.
• Ensure data security, backup, and disaster recovery strategies to protect assets.
• Collaborate with production and pipeline teams to optimize performance across animation, rendering, and post-production software (Maya, Houdini, Blender, Unreal Engine, etc.).
• Oversee hardware and software procurement, managing vendor relationships and budgeting.
• Troubleshoot technical issues for artists, animators, and developers, ensuring minimal downtime.
• Implement best practices for IT governance, cybersecurity, and compliance.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies in animation, gaming, and cloud computing to future-proof the studio's infrastructure.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of IT experience in animation, VFX, gaming, or film production.
• Strong expertise in networking (LAN/WAN), cloud computing (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), and server management (Linux & Windows environments).
• Experience with render farm management (Deadline, Qube, or equivalent).
• Solid understanding of NAS/SAN storage solutions (e.g., Qumulo, Isilon, Synology).
• Proficiency in IT security, firewall management, and VPN solutions.
• Familiarity with virtualization (VMware, Docker, Kubernetes) and automation tools.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware/software issues in a creative studio environment.
• Fluent in French and English (spoken and written).
• Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a proactive approach to IT challenges.

Bonus Skills (Nice to Have!)

• Experience with animation production pipelines and asset management tools.
• Scripting knowledge (Python, Bash, or PowerShell) for IT automation.
• Understanding of real-time engines (Unreal Engine, Unity).

Equal Opportunity

At Thinkingbox, we are committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels included, valued, and heard. We believe that diversity is our creative strength, and it's the blend of unique experiences and perspectives that drives our best problem-solving and innovation. The outcome? Greater creativity, growth, and meaningful impact. We encourage all applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or gender identity, to apply and bring their unique talents to our team.

To Apply

Thank you for applying to Thinkingbox! Please include both your resume and portfolio with your application. Due to the high volume of applications, we may not be able to reach out to everyone individually. However, rest assured that all applications are stored in our talent database and will be considered for future opportunities!