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About the Role
Are you passionate about extended reality (XR) and advanced media production? Do you thrive in technically complex environments, and enjoy collaborating with creatives and subject matter experts?
The Open University is seeking an XR Technical Lead to lead the operational delivery of our new XR Studios in Milton Keynes.
This is a hands-on role focused on enabling high-quality XR productions supporting teaching and learning across our wide curriculum. You’ll work closely with academic staff, producers, developers, and external partners to ensure our studio infrastructure is production-ready and aligned to the needs of a dynamic institution with ambitious growth plans.
The XR Technical Lead will be responsible for the production readiness of the XR Studios, and for development of the capabilities to support emerging requirements of OU curriculum, research and innovation.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will oversee the work of the XR Assistant Technical Lead, and work alongside and support the Studio Project Manager and academic and developer teams, providing technical and creative leadership.
Specific responsibilities include (but may not be limited to):
- Lifecycle responsibility for studio hardware and software
- In collaboration with the Studio Project Manager and relevant others, scope and specify technical and infrastructure requirements
- Responsibility for vendor relationships, service agreements, sourcing and procurement
- Work closely with directors, producers, software developers and academic teams to ensure seamless integration of virtual and physical elements for production
- Operate and maintain studio hardware (across virtual production, volumetric and motion capture, including LED volume, and related equipment such as cameras, lighting, tracking equipment, etc.)
- Manage and maintain all relevant software systems, projects and configurations, camera-tracking software, and motion and volumetric programmes, and all related data flows
- Operate and monitor studio systems during productions, ensuring optimal performance and effectively troubleshooting any technical issues that arise
- Responsibility for data management and archiving
- Responsibility for health and safety.
About You
The successful candidate will be responsible for the production readiness of the Studios, and for development of the capabilities to support emerging requirements of OU curriculum, research and partnerships.
Essential:
- Knowledge and understanding of XR and advanced media production infrastructure and production pipelines and workflows, including virtual production, motion, performance and volumetric capture
- Knowledge and understanding of the role, requirements and workflows of other departments (virtual/3D art, vendor, stage, edit), and expertise in data manipulation and management
- Software skills, including proficiency with real-time rendering engines, 3D modelling and animation software, and compositing and rendering programmes
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team development environment with a range of stakeholders
- Evidence of the ability to think strategically, laterally and creatively
- A pragmatic approach to problem solving
- A track record of continual personal and professional development
- First degree in a relevant subject (or relevant professional experience).
Desirable:
- Knowledge or experience of motion-capture systems, calibration, capture, troubleshooting and data management
- Knowledge or experience of volumetric capture systems, data rendering/processing, outputs and troubleshooting
- Knowledge of visual effects (VFX) and post-production processes
- Experience with live broadcasts
- Higher degree or professional qualifications in a relevant subject.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Please note: While this role does offer an element of hybrid working, the successful candidate will be required to work on site for a minimum of 80% of their contracted hours, spread across 4 days per week. However we do ask for flexibility in response to business needs.
We are happy to recieve applications from candidates who may wish to be considered on a part time basis (up to a minimum of 30 hours per week), however, the requirement to work on site for a least of 4 days per week would remain in place
Next steps in the Recruitment process
Interviews are likely to take place across the 10th and 11th November.
Interviews will to be face to face on campus, and will comprise of a competency & technical interview, a tour of the campus & XL studio, and a meet and greet with the wider team. We anticipate the entire process will take approximatly 2.5 hours.
Early closing date notification
We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
How to apply
To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):
- A CV outlining how you meet the essential criteria for this role (required)
- You may also submit a supporting statement (up to 1000 words) outlining how you meet the essential criteria if you wish. However this is optional.
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undertake a basic DBS check.
