2027 Apprenticeship Program - General TD Trainee

Walt Disney Animation Studios; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship program

Career development

Job summary

The Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver Apprenticeship Program offers an immersive entry into the art of animation with mentorship. The General Technical Director Trainee position starts January 2027 with a structured first months of training and real-time production exposure.

Recent graduates or early-career developers will work with Disney mentors to refine pipelines, tools, and techniques, gaining hands-on experience in a production environment in Canada.

Qualifications

• Recent graduates or developers with up to 5 years in animation industry
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required
• Experience with Python scripting and Linux/Unix is required
• Strong problem solving and collaboration skills are essential
• Experience with Maya, Houdini and USD is a plus
• C or C++ development experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Develop working knowledge of the production pipeline in a supported training environment
• Learn filmmaking process and production environment under a mentor
• Design and write processes and tools to support artistic departments needs
• Support artists in CG animation processes and workflows
• Collaborate with trainees to foster teamwork
• Partner with TD department to accomplish tasks
• Address real-time feedback under mentor guidance
• Participate in studio events to contribute to studio culture
• Complete application requirements for recent graduates or degree holders
• Demonstrate proficiency with scripting and graphics packages like Maya/Houdini

Skills

Python scripting

Linux/Unix

Collaborative work

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Maya

Houdini

C/C++ development

USD

Job description

Job Summary

Job Requirements Join us for an opportunity to experience the art of animation and be a part of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Talent Development Apprenticeship Program is an immersive experience available for emerging artists. Under the guidance of a Disney mentor, the Talent Development Apprenticeship Program offers a unique opportunity to hone and understand skills, refine and strengthen key disciplines, and engage in a real-time production environment with mentorship support.

The General Technical Director Trainee

The Apprenticeship Program is based in our Vancouver studio location and will start in January 2027. The deadline for applications is November 16, 2026, 11:59 PM PST.

Technical Directors strategize solutions to a range of production and pipeline issues. You’ll exercise your technical skills to write scripts, adapt tools, and modify workflows in support of artistic endeavors. You will work directly with artists, fellow technical directors, and software developers to solve problems and implement new techniques.

As a Technical Director Trainee, the first three to four months of your program are structured to introduce you to the processes and tools of our filmmaking, our studio culture, and our production environment. These initial months will showcase the skills and philosophies of our Technical Director department while providing you nurturing mentorship with a Disney developer. A 3-4 month review provides you with real-time feedback and determines future assignments and promotional opportunities that would bring your skills into real-time production environments.

Key Qualifications

• Emerging developers with less than 5 years of animation industry experience OR Recent graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 18 years or older
• Eligible to work in Canada

Job Responsibilities

• Develop a working knowledge of the production pipeline in a supported training environment
• Work with an assigned mentor to learn our filmmaking process and production environment
• Design and write processes and tools to support artistic departments needs
• Become proficient in supporting our artists in a variety of areas to facilitate the CG animation process
• Collaborate with other trainees in the program to foster a strong teamwork based environment
• Partner with the broader Technical Director department to accomplish assigned tasks
• Address real-time feedback under the guidance and support of an assigned mentor
• Participate in studio events to become an active contributor to our studio culture Application Requirements:
• Recent graduates - Degree in computer science, related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience with scripting using Python
• Experience with the Linux or Unix operating system
• Strong problem solving skills required
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction well
• Experience with commercial graphics packages including Maya, Houdini and Global Illumination Lighting packages a plus
• Experience with C or C++ development a plus
• Understanding of computer graphics production processes a plus Experience with USD a plus

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay transparency

The hourly rate for this position in British Columbia, Canada is $30CAD per hour. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits, may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.

This position is with Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver Inc., which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Animation Studios.