FX Pipeline TD at LAIKA

General Summary
The FX Pipeline TD will work closely with artists, senior engineers, and technical directors to design, develop, deploy, and support custom tools, scripts, OTLs, APIs, and plugins to extend the capabilities of our USD-backed, Houdini-based FX Pipeline. 

Job Functions 

• Extend the capabilities of Houdini through custom scripts, digital assets, and plugins, collaborating with production and facility leadership to target high value projects and addressing the needs of FX artists, as well as various other departments to integrate Houdini into respective workflows.
• Collaborate with the technology team to integrate Houdini-authored products into the asset management system.
• Work with non-technical end users to help define requirements for novel tools and develop prototypes for systems that solve production problems.
• Collaborate with other pipeline TDs and engineers to evolve the core pipeline by incorporating technological advances and addressing the evolving requirements of a growing facility.
• Assist in the integration of Houdini into the production pipeline as identified by production and technology leadership.
• Follow the processes and procedures of the software development life cycle, build and release system, and documentation and testing standards used in Technology.
• Provide support of existing tools via bug fixes and version updates.
• Support users on Linux with FX and Houdini related inquiries.
• Support applications through documentation, training, and handling questions. 

Qualifications 

• 4+ years of experience developing custom tools and workflows relevant to FX within an animation or VFX studio environment.
• Experience developing with Python including familiarity with best practices, the Python core library, and industry standard libraries such as PySide and pytest, as well as Houdini’s domain specific languages - Vex and Hscript.
• Experience integrating Houdini into a production pipeline, leveraging its various API.
• Experience designing and authoring Houdini Digital Assets.
• Experience with USD and its various APIs, both stand alone and in Solaris.
• Experience with one or more production grade renderers, such as Renderman.
• Experience with additional DCCs such as Maya, Katana, Terragen, and/or Nuke, a plus.
• Experience with SCM tools such as Git and GitLab.
• Experience with Linux preferred. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.  

Location 
On-site in Hillsboro, OR and eligible for remote work.

Salary 
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Please review our EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER and MATERIALS SUBMISSION AGREEMENT.