Senior Graphics & AI Research Scientist (Production-Focused)

Pixar; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville invites world-class researchers to advance computer graphics and AI for film production. This role blends academic research with practical studio applications, collaborating with artists, engineers, and production teams to push the boundaries of rendering, simulation, and intelligent systems.

You will lead projects, publish in top venues such as SIGGRAPH, and help shape studio strategy by identifying emerging technologies and driving adoption across

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in CS/AI or related field.
• 7+ years of post-graduate research experience.
• Sustained history of original research and publications in top-tier venues (e.g., SIGGRAPH, CVPR, NeurIPS).
• Deep expertise in at least one area of graphics/AI, solid coding skills.

Responsibilities

• Research & Innovation: identify and solve complex graphics/AI problems; design, develop, and deploy scalable algorithms and prototype software.
• Production Collaboration: work directly with artists, technical directors, and engineers to address real-world production challenges under tight deadlines.
• Leadership & Publication: lead research projects, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, and maintain Pixar’s presence in the global research community.
• Strategy: stay current on emerging technologies and provide recommendations for studio adoption.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Technical writing

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science/AI

Job description

Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville invites world-class researchers to advance computer graphics and AI for film production. This role blends academic research with practical studio applications, collaborating with artists, engineers, and production teams to push the boundaries of rendering, simulation, and intelligent systems.

You will lead projects, publish in top venues such as SIGGRAPH, and help shape studio strategy by identifying emerging technologies and driving adoption across