Animation Pipeline Tech Director - Tools & Production

Skydance; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 73,012 - 85,411; Full time

Job summary

Skydance is seeking a Pipeline Technical Director to design and develop tools that enhance the production pipeline for our next animated feature. You will be embedded with artists and production management, reporting to the Production Technology Supervisor on progress and tool performance.

The role requires expert Python skills and experience with Maya/Houdini/Nuke, plus familiarity with post/preproduction workflows and various editing suites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree or equivalent experience in CS/CG.
• 3+ years in computer animation, VFX, or games.
• Expert in Python.
• Experience with Maya/Houdini/Nuke.
• Experience with Post and Preproduction workflows.
• Experience with one or more non-linear editing suites: Avid/ Premiere/ Resolve.
• Familiar with media encodings and transcoding software: ffmpeg.
• Experience with Linux, Mac, Windows.
• Experience with Git.
• Experience with Agile development and Scrum.
• UI toolkit knowledge: Qt/PySide.
• Pipeline/plugin development in third‑party DCC tools (preferred).
• Experience with Java/Javascript/C++ (preferred).
• Experience with Docker, Git, AWS (preferred).

Responsibilities

• TDs embedded within productions to support artists and production management.
• Report to Production Technology Supervisor on tool development status and performance.
• Develop and maintain tools per production department requirements and team guides.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to iterate, debug, and document tools.
• Serve as first line of support for day-to-day artist issues.
• Address short-term shot-based needs and challenges.

Skills

Python

Agile development

Scrum

User interaction design

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CG or equivalent

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Nuke

Avid Media Composer

Premiere Pro

DaVinci Resolve

ffmpeg

Git

Docker

AWS

Qt/PySide

Job description

Skydance is seeking a Pipeline Technical Director to design and develop tools that enhance the production pipeline for our next animated feature. You will be embedded with artists and production management, reporting to the Production Technology Supervisor on progress and tool performance.

The role requires expert Python skills and experience with Maya/Houdini/Nuke, plus familiarity with post/preproduction workflows and various editing suites.