General Technical Director (Pipeline TD)

At Walt Disney Animation Studios we have a deep commitment to the philosophy that creativity inspires technology, and technology inspires creativity. Technical Directors are responsible for providing support to our artist teams in a variety of areas including writing tools to facilitate the CG animation process, acting as a liaison to software and system engineers, and front-line artist support.

They function as an integral part of the artist departments they’re associated with, designing or optimizing processes and tools to best fit production needs. They should look at production systems holistically and have the ability to visualize the larger pipeline, understand the impact of their actions, and how to optimize processes and tools. Technical Directors also have an important role in our ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of what we're capable of producing in our various toolsets.

Projects Include:

• Novel interaction interfaces and models for artists

• Tools for procedurally generating worlds

• Creative workflows built on existing platforms to solve production-specific problems

• Evolutions and revolutions of our production data pipeline

We are looking for a Technical Director to join our Animation studio, targeting tool development and support Production. In this role, you will partner with artists, production and technology leadership, other technical directors, cross-team software engineers, and other technologists and researchers across the Walt Disney Studios. You will be on the bleeding edge designing and implementing innovative workflows and state of the art solutions. This is a regular, full time, staff position that will be located at our Vancouver, BC studio. Please note that relocation eligibility may be determined based on role and individual circumstance.

What does it mean to be a developer here at Walt Disney Animation Studios?

• Our TDs provide support to our artists in a variety of areas including scripting and coding tools to facilitate the CG animation process

• Design and optimize processes and tools to fit production needs

• View production systems holistically and have the ability to visualize the larger pipeline while understanding the impact of their actions

• Act as a collaborator with the larger Technical Director department

• Active engagement with artistic and technical leadership in the ongoing evolution of the production process

• Become involved in mentoring apprentices and other Technical Directors in tools and processes

• Active engagement with the Technology Department in the research and development of new methodologies

• Involvement in the positive representation of Walt Disney Animation Studios in the larger filmmaking and computer graphics community

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, a related field or equivalent

• Strong scripting and programming skills including Python and C++

• Ability to write and apply innovative techniques

• Strong problem solving skills

• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, offer mentorship, and take direction from department and show leadership

• Experience in a consumer support role

Bonus Qualifications:

• Understanding of computer graphics foundational concepts, and algorithms

• Knowledge of visual effects, animation, graphics techniques and algorithms

• Experience with USD

• Strong mathematical fundamentals, including linear algebra and numerical methods

• Strong understanding of coding process, standards, continuous integration and testing principles

• Software development experience on production systems

• Advanced Maya experience and in-depth knowledge of Linux

• Understanding of environmental effects simulation techniques and Houdini

• Advanced experience with modern global illumination rendering

• Solid understanding of node-based compositing packages (i.e. Shake, Nuke, or similar)

• Experience with game engines such as Unreal, Unity, Lumberyard

• Experience in technical leadership

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science