Sr Visualization Pipeline Engineer

General Summary  

The Sr Visualization Pipeline Engineer develops and maintains the technical infrastructure and workflows that support LAIKA’s previsualization process. This role is responsible for creating and integrating software tools for Unreal Engine, Maya, Houdini, and other DCC applications to enable efficient visualization workflows for artists, directors, and production teams. 

Job Functions  

• Build and maintain a robust software pipeline to support visualization workflows using Unreal Engine, Maya, and other DCC tools.
• Develop tools, scripts, and plugins that seamlessly integrate with existing studio infrastructure and 3rd party applications connecting production design, camera, stage, and VFX workflows.
• Develop new visualization and virtual production systems and tools for artists in a stop motion animation studio.
• Monitor and optimize performance and identify and resolve bottlenecks across the virtual production and previs pipeline.
• Contribute to research and development, implement 3rd  party solutions when available, and design and build prototypes in collaboration with other technology teams for next generation systems.
• Follow the processes and procedures of the software development life cycle, build and release system, and documentation and testing standards used at LAIKA.
• Collaborate on the design and development of foundational systems used across the digital pipeline including developer-facing APIs and services, as well as user-facing UIs for asset, farm, process, disk, and configuration management.
• Work closely with artists, technical directors, and production teams to gather requirements, troubleshoot issues, and implement new features and updates.
• Provide day-to-day support to artists and production teams, assisting with pipeline-related issues and delivering timely solutions.
• Document workflows, processes, and best practices appropriate for users of varying technical backgrounds. 

Qualifications  

• 5+ years of experience as a software engineer for large scale productions in the VFX, feature animation, or games industries.
• Proficient with Unreal Engine for visualization or similar real-time engines.
• Expert level ability in Python including the standard library, the Qt Toolkit (PySide, PyQt), and common 3rd  party libraries and frameworks, preferred.
• Experience with the Perforce/Helix revision control system in either a user or administrative capacity.
• Experience with virtual production pipelines and hardware (e.g., motion capture, LED walls, camera tracking, etc.).
• Experience with at least one other language beyond Python such as C++, Rust or Go, a plus.
• Experience with multi-platform development (Linux/MacOS/Windows).
• Experience with common industry platforms including USD, Maya, and/or Houdini, preferred. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment  

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.  
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.   

Location

On-site in Hillsboro, OR

Salary

Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.