Houdini Simulation Technical Engineer

Sony Imageworks; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading visual effects company in Vancouver is searching for a skilled Technical Engineer specializing in Houdini. The ideal candidate will design and optimize procedural systems, ensuring high performance and usability across teams. Requirements include over 7 years of experience in a VFX environment, exceptional knowledge of Houdini, and proficiency in Python and VEX. Strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities are essential. This role offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in VFX, Animation, or Game production environments.
• Exceptional knowledge of Houdini, including tool creation and optimization.
• Deliver on multiple competing priorities with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable procedural systems within Houdini.
• Collaborate with artists to gather requirements and troubleshoot issues.
• Document tools and workflows for broader team use.

Skills

Procedural workflows in VFX

Tool creation in Houdini

Python proficiency

VEX knowledge

3D math and geometry processing

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Houdini

PyQt/PySide

C++

Job description

Simulation (Houdini) - Technical Engineer

658 Homer Street., Suite 405, Vancouver, BC, V6B 2R4

Language in work environment - English

Role overview

We are looking to expand our development team dedicated to enhancing our Creature Effect, Crowds, Environment, and FX tools and workflow. We are looking for a highly proficient Technical Engineer to focus on the development and implementation of robust, high-performance, and domain-specific procedural toolsets using SideFX Houdini.

This role requires strong technical leadership and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision alongside a Lead Software Engineer or Architect. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced production environment where priorities can shift quickly.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design, develop, and implement scalable procedural systems and workflows within Houdini for various departments (FX, Creature, Crowds, Environments).
• Create, maintain, and optimize robust Houdini Digital Assets (OTLs), ensuring stability, ease of use, and adherence to production standards.
• Extend the core pipeline by developing, integrating, and supporting tools that manage data flow, asset publishing, and version control.
• Collaborate closely with artists (Creature, FX, Lighting) to gather requirements and troubleshoot technical issues, providing support for both in-house and commercial tools.
• Partner with engineers across other teams (Shading, Lighting, Rendering) to ensure seamless integration of procedural assets into the overall rendering and compositing pipeline.
• Document tools and workflows thoroughly for use by the wider artistic and engineering teams.

Required Technical Experience & Skills

• 7 Years of professional experience in developing procedural workflows and tools in a VFX, Animation, or Game production environment.
• Exceptional, demonstrable knowledge of the Houdini environment, including tool creation, optimization, and advanced workflow techniques.
• Expert proficiency in Python and VEX for writing efficient, custom nodes, and tool wrappers.
• Proven experience developing and supporting production pipeline tools and asset delivery.
• Experience leveraging the Houdini API and other DCCs like Katana.
• Strong grasp of 3D math, linear algebra, and data structures as applied to geometry processing and simulation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Capable of delivering on multiple competing priorities with little supervision.

Preferred skills

• Documented experience with desktop application development using PyQt/PySide to create custom user interfaces.
• Experience with C++ for high-performance plugin development.
• Experience with data science, machine learning, or complex simulation techniques (e.g., fluid dynamics, cloth) in a production context.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Digital Media, or a related technical field.