Dmitry Ryabchuk

Detail-oriented professional with 6+ years of experience supporting data-driven decision making, allocation workflows, and cross-functional execution in fast-paced production and product environments. Strong analytical skillset with proven ability to manage large datasets, generate actionable reports, and support planning teams in meeting operational targets. Known for systems thinking, adaptability, and a customer-centric mindset supported by AI-enabled and process-driven workflows.

Houdini Technical Artist at META via Insight Global

Toronto, ON

December 2025 - December 2025

Projects: Horizon

• Prototyped a scalable Universal Tree Tool for META’s Horizon team to assist the scene generation within proprietary engine setup.
• Tested, packaged, and deployed the Leaf Culling Tool for use with Horizon assets.
• Monitored the user feedback and adjusted the UI accordingly.

Creative Project Manager at Heretical Funhouse
Toronto, ON

April 2024 – September 2025

Projects: Mercenary, Gardar Realm

• Directed 2 indie game projects, delivering playable prototypes and securing early funding.
• Implemented procedural + AI-assisted workflows (Midjourney, ChatGPT), producing 300+ concept assets and reducing early-stage iteration time by 25%.
• Managed 3-person art team, improving asset consistency and cross-discipline communication.
• Oversaw multi-platform marketing campaign (Google, Meta, Reddit), reaching 20k+ impressions and expanding early audience engagement.

Technical Artist Project Lead at Google via Cognizant
Toronto, ON | May 2023 – May 2025

Projects: Android XR

• Built a scalable Houdini PDG + OpenUSD material pipeline, processing 10,000+ assets, cutting turnaround time by 35% for ML and XR applications.
• Optimized and delivered 100+ high-fidelity assets for a Digital Human initiative.
• Conducted 30,000+ dataset annotations that directly improved AI model training accuracy.
• Standardized shader workflows and tested AI tool integration, improving prototype iteration speed by 20%.
• Recruited and mentored 3 Technical Artists, reducing onboarding time and improving delivery consistency.
• Acted as primary client liaison, providing milestone reports, technical solutions, and pipeline documentation.

Environments Artist at MARZ VFX
Toronto, ON

August 2021 – March 2023

Projects: Beacon 23, Wednesday, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, Pennyworth, The Walking Dead: Dead City, Saving Bikini Bottom, Gaslit, Resort

• Promoted to Lead Environment Artist; managed scene assembly for 10+ productions and supervised 2 artists.
• Developed a procedural Houdini scattering system for large-scale forests and cityscapes, boosting environment build speed by 30%.
• Standardized proxy geometry workflows for the lighting team, creating documentation + 4 training videos, reducing cross-team errors by 40%.
• Built photorealistic hero props and terrains (Houdini heightfields), integrated seamlessly into production pipelines.
• Processed and optimized 15+ third-party assets for real-time scene assembly.

Modeler at Tangent Animation
Winnipeg, MB

January 2021 – August 2021

Projects: Monkey King

• Engineered vegetation generation and scattering tools in Houdini, reducing manual placement time by 50% across 2 major scenes.
• Delivered 3 production-ready stylized environment assets, optimized for pipeline compatibility and smooth rendering.
• Authored 3 Houdini training tutorials, raising the technical skill level of the environment team.
• Diagnosed and resolved critical USD pipeline errors between Blender, Maya, and Houdini, preventing delivery delays and ensuring asset integrity.

Freelance 3D Artist
Toronto, ON

October 2016 – September 2020

• Designed and delivered 7 custom 3D-print assets to meet unique client specifications.
• Produced assets for 2 ad campaigns, delivering models, textures, and renders within tight deadlines.
• Built interactive game levels, integrating art and gameplay to meet client vision.

• BA, Media Arts
  • University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC (2018 - 2020)
• MA, Social Anthropology
  • SOAS, UK (2013 - 2016)
• MRes, Research Methods in Anthropology
  • SOAS, UK (2013 - 2016)
• MA, Oriental Studies
  • RSUH, Moscow, Russia (2008 - 2013)