Software Developer

DNEG; Caerphilly; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading visual effects studio is seeking a Software Developer to enhance its VFX pipeline with machine learning solutions. The ideal candidate enjoys building complex software systems and has expertise in Python and C++. You will collaborate with engineers and artists to deploy web front-end UIs and improve stability in high-stakes environments. This role requires a proactive mindset and the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly. Competitive salary and opportunities for personal growth available.

Benefits

Collaborative work environment

Opportunities for mentorship

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in Python and shell scripting.
• Experience with complex software packaging and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in Linux and command-line operations.

Responsibilities

• Deploy ML solutions within the VFX pipeline.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement data pipelines.
• Write technical documentation and workflow guides.

Skills

Python

C++

JavaScript

Linux

Education

Computer Science degree or equivalent

Tools

Git

CMake

FastAPI

Job description

Brahma is a pioneering enterprise AI company developing Astras, AI-native products built to help enterprises and creators innovate at scale. Brahma enables teams to break creative bottlenecks, accelerate storytelling, and deliver standout content with speed and efficiency. Part of the DNEG Group, Brahma brings together Hollywood’s leading creative technologists, innovators in AI and Generative AI, and thought leaders in the ethical creation of AI content.

The Brahma AI R&D team explores, tests, and deploys machine-learning and automation solutions that enhance artist tooling and DNEG’s software infrastructure across a global, multi-site environment. With multiple film projects running in parallel, we solve complex problems at scale to help thousands of artists deliver tens of thousands of shots and assets.

As a Software Developer, you will deliver high-quality tools, services, and web front-end UIs that enable award-winning VFX and feature animation work.

You should apply if:

• You enjoy building, packaging, and configuring complex software systems.
• You are fluent across modern software development and ML tooling and like collaborating with engineers, researchers, and artists.
• You care about efficiency, reliability, and clean engineering.

Your role:

• Deploy ML solutions and integrate AI tooling within the VFX pipeline with minimal burden on artists and production.
• Design and build web front-end UIs (dashboards, curation tools, job control, review) that make ML/automation workflows intuitive and accessible.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders and architects to implement cost-effective data and MLOps pipelines; document methodologies.
• Build, package, and configure complex software systems across Linux.
• Improve efficiency, stability, and observability through profiling, metrics, and tracing.
• Validate work with methodical testing (unit/integration/e2e).
• Write clear technical documentation and workflow guides for artists and developers.
• Manage escalated troubleshooting and debugging for ML-driven tools and services.
• Work collaboratively under tight deadlines; mentor developers, assign tasks where appropriate, and report to the Head of ADG.

Engineering quality and coding standards:

• Enforce standards via CI: formatting (e.g., black/clang-format), linting (ruff/eslint, clang-tidy), typing (Python type hints, TypeScript), and test coverage gates.
• Require code reviews for all merges; maintain modular, testable designs with clear separation of concerns and DCC-agnostic cores where applicable.
• Documented APIs (OpenAPI/Protobuf), versioned schemas, and backward-compatible changes.
• Secure-by-default practices (authn/z, secrets management), performance budgets, and telemetry by design.

Primary technologies (coding language setup):

• Languages: Python 3.x (tooling and ML integration), C++17 (performance-critical components), TypeScript/JavaScript (web UIs).
• Web front-end: React (or Vue), modern build tooling, REST/GraphQL clients.
• Services: FastAPI/Flask, gRPC/HTTP; containerized on Linux.
• Build/packaging: CMake; setuptools/pip/poetry; RPM/deb where appropriate.
• VCS/CI: Git; GitHub/GitLab CI or Jenkins.

Skills & Requirements

• Strong programming and shell-scripting skills (Python; Bash).
• Experience building and troubleshooting non-trivial packages (C++11-17, CMake, autotools, setuptools/pip/poetry, RPM).
• Linux expertise and command-line proficiency.
• Solid grasp of systems architecture and software engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to articulate complex technology to non-experts and collaborate openly.
• Confidence in navigating ambiguity and providing pragmatic solutions.
• Proactive mindset and comfort with multiple priorities.
• Logical, methodical approach to problem solving.

Nice to have:

• Significant experience with a major package/ports system.
• Experience monitoring, collecting, and analysing diagnostics to drive resilience.
• Practical experience with Git and issue tracking systems (Jira).
• Familiarity with ops/CI/CD tooling (Elastic Stack, Graphite/Grafana/StatsD, Sensu, Jenkins/GitHub Actions).
• Understanding of sysadmin responsibilities (networking, filesystems, environment management).
• Relevant qualifications (CS/CE degree; RHCSA/RHCE, etc.).
• Demonstrable open-source contributions.

This role is crucial to implementing seamless ML capabilities across the DNEG/Brahma group, directly improving the tools that power projects from blockbuster features to premium television.