Expression of Interest - Sr. Software Engineer, USD Authoring

This posting is an opportunity to submit your resume for future consideration; this is not a role that is open at this time. We anticipate this role may be open in the future, but we are not actively hiring for the position. If you would like to be considered for this potential role, please submit your resume. If the role becomes available, you may receive an email or call from a recruiter.

At Walt Disney Animation Studios we have a deep commitment to the philosophy that creativity inspires technology, and technology inspires creativity. Engineers in our Production Technology department are charged with developing and implementing new algorithms to solve unique and challenging problems for all of our animated content.We do this working alongside a user base that shares a collaborative environment with us, and uses the code we develop to make our feature films.

We are looking for an engineer to join our Production Technology team, targeting software development in multiple domains, from core libraries to user interfaces. In this role, you will be a part of a team of cross-site developers who partner closely with artists, production and technology leadership, technical directors, cross-team software engineers, and other technologists and researchers across Walt Disney Studios. You will be leading efforts related to designing and implementing innovative workflows and state of the art solutions motivated by our new long-term vision for Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Projects Include

• Designing and implementing core infrastructure to manage our shot, environment, and asset definitions and structures

• Building new APIs to allow for artist-facing and data management tools to more readily access shot content

• Supporting our productions by identifying and solving technical obstacles encountered by our artists

• Extending and improving the core libraries used for end-user tool creation

• Contributing to major studio initiatives aimed at restructuring our assets and improving artist productivity and show velocity

• Creating new user interfaces and tools for artists and technical directors to author, edit, access, and inspect shot and asset content

• Adopting new external DCC’s and integrating them into our pipeline

• Writing new tools and plugins into 3rd party apps for rough to fine story development

• Devising artist dashboards for consolidating and managing tasks, encouraging collaboration and visibility into the characters, environments, story and the overall film making process

What does it mean to be a developer here at WDAS?

• Our engineers get the opportunity to work on the full stack of our tools, from developing the underlying algorithms through building intuitive artist-friendly interfaces.

• Work hand in hand with artists to make the tools we need for the incredibly complex and rich characters and environments featured in our movies.

• Develop on top of a highly performant, extendable in-house application framework.

• Develop new artist-centric interaction models using the latest hardware and technologies.

Key Qualifications

• Strong experience with C++ (including x11/x14) or equivalent experience

• Strong experience with Python or equivalent experience

• Strong experience with Qt (for desktop development) or equivalent experience

• Experience with USD (Universal Scene Description)

• Experience with developing threaded libraries and applications using TBB

• At least 5 years experience designing and developing interactive tools

• Good sense of user interface/software design

• Exemplary communication, teamwork and problem solving skills, balancing the timeliness of solutions with their sustainability. Able to prioritize competing demands based on business value.

• Effective listener: able to engage with engineers and artists to understand their requirements and infer practical solutions.

• BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or other related field; or comparable industry experience

Bonus Qualifications

• Strong experience writing testable code

• Experience working with a Product Design/UX Engineering team

• Experience in the computer animation process (eg. games/films/visual effects)

• Master’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or other related field; or comparable industry experience

The hiring range for this position in California is $141,900.00-$190,300.00 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.