What You'll Do

* Develop tools, structures, and pipeline systems that define how artists assemble and manage massively complex 3D scenes.
* Design user interfaces for authoring, validating, publishing, and tracking 3D and 2D data as it moves through the production pipeline.
* Extend, optimize, and simplify a complex network of automated batch processes.
* Integrate commercial and open-source systems into the ILM production pipeline.
* Work with and extend ILM's proprietary content creation systems.
* Work in a collaborative team of software engineers, and work directly with highly specialized and supremely talented artists, in ILM's studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London, and Singapore.
* Split your time between long-term software development projects and day-to-day support of active shows.

Education / Experience

* BS or advanced degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience.
* Proven years of experience in professional software development and/or VFX production.
Personal Skills

* An intuitive understanding of the demands of a fast-paced, creatively-driven visual effects production environment.
* Collaboration: a readiness to trust others, be trustworthy, and play nice.
* Communication: an ability to express yourself concisely, a willingness to speak up, and a conviction to keep everyone informed of progress and issues.
* Empathy: an ability to listen intently and understand artists' needs.
* Creativity: an insightful and analytical thinker, and a creative problem solver.

Technical Skills

* Expert knowledge of programming in python and/or C++ on Linux.
* Thorough knowledge of computer graphics and animation concepts: character rigging, geometric deformations, dynamic simulation, shading and rendering, etc.
* Experience with commercial animation and VFX software applications: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, RV, Shotgun, etc.
* Knowledge of industry-standard scene data formats: Alembic, USD, etc.
* Experience with GUI toolkits: Qt, PyQt/PySide, etc.
* Thorough knowledge of software design/development principles: design patterns, object-oriented design, agile development, etc.
* Experience with revision control and release management: Perforce/SVN, Git, etc.
* Experience working with a large, complex, mature, and dynamic code base.