Senior Developer (Unreal Engine) - Special Projects

The Special Projects team at Wētā FX seeks a Senior Developer with strong Unreal Engine software development skills. This role focuses on creating innovative tools, content, and experiences using real-time technologies to advance visual effects. The successful candidate will collaborate with artists and filmmakers, solving complex creative technology challenges across diverse projects, from prototyping to deployment, while championing clear, maintainable, and scalable code.

Must Have

• Offer seasoned software development skills and best practices.
• Be a key part in the development of real-time projects from prototyping to deployment.
• Work collaboratively with a team of artists and filmmakers to solve novel problems.
• Write and champion clear, maintainable, scalable, and highly functional code.
• Write thorough technical documentation processes for internal and client projects.
• Be able to tackle editor, real-time engine, build, or tool problems as they arise.
• Support the technology team at a project level in software development.
• Experience as a senior software developer in a creative studio environment.
• Up to 10 years' experience as a software developer with a recent focus on Unreal Engine.
• Solid grounding in Unreal Engine with examples of shipped experiences, games, productions, or products.
• Excellent software engineering skills, including design, implementation, debugging, and optimization.
• Broad experience with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, C#, and Blueprint.
• Familiarity with different methods of tool management and delivery within the Unreal Engine ecosystem.
• Production experience within a Games or VFX facility using common DCC tools.
• Production experience with Perforce and Git.

Good to Have

• Familiarity with common CI/CD tools like Horde, Jenkins, or GitLab CI/CD.
• Familiarity with multiplatform development spanning desktop, mobile, or console platforms.

Perks & Benefits

• Diverse and inclusive environment.
• Welcoming, respected, supported, and appreciated crew.
• High-quality work environment.
• Open-minded culture.

The Special Projects team within Wētā FX is looking to hire a Senior Developer with a strong background in software development within the Unreal Engine ecosystem.

Special Projects is focused on developing innovative tools, content, and experiences using real-time technologies. Our goal is to enable creative partners to achieve their vision using emerging technologies, with a focus on producing uncompromising visual work.

In collaboration with other departments at Wētā FX, you will be exploring how real-time game engines can advance innovation in visual effects. Your ability to solve complex creative technology challenges for clients across a diverse range of projects will be the hallmark of your success.

What you’ll do:

• Offer seasoned software development skills to the team via best practises and proven experience delivering client projects

• Be a key part in the development of real-time projects and the technologies that drive them, from prototyping to production, all the way through to deployment

• Work collaboratively with a team of artists and filmmakers to solve novel problems

• Write and champion clear, maintainable, scalable, and highly functional code

• Write thorough technical documentation processes for internal and client projects
• Be able to tackle editor, real-time engine, build, or tool problems as they arise
• Support the technology team at a project level, in regards to software development

What you’ll bring:

• A genuine love and curiosity for the world of emerging technologies and game engine development

• Experience as a senior software developer in a creative studio environment

• Up to 10 years' experience as a software developer with a recent focus on Unreal Engine

• Solid grounding in Unreal Engine with examples of shipped experiences, games, productions, or products using the engine

• Excellent software engineering skills, including the ability to design, implement, debug, and optimize software as well as optimizing both memory consumption and execution speed
• Broad experience with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, C#, and Blueprint
• Familiarity with the different methods of tool management and delivery available within the Unreal Engine ecosystem
• Production experience within a Games or VFX facility using common DCC tools

• Production experience with Perforce and GitExcellent communication, interpersonal, and diplomacy skills

• A love for learning and sharing all facets of emergent technologies
• Familiarity with common CI/CD tools like Horde, Jenkins, or GitLab CI/CD a plus
• Familiarity with multiplatform development spanning desktop, mobile, or console platforms a plus

At Wētā FX we celebrate our diversity and believe in creating an environment where all our crew feel welcomed, respected, supported and appreciated. We define ourselves by the quality of our work, and we’re striving to build a workplace experience that’s second to none. Here at Wētā FX we value open minds and encourage our crew to be themselves.

We aim to provide a discrimination-free experience, beginning from the moment you apply for a role with us. If there is anything we can do to make the recruitment process easier, please let us know at recruitment@wetafx.co.nz.

This opportunity extends to applicants living & able to work in New Zealand; international candidates would be comfortable considering relocating to NZ for the duration of their contract.

If this sounds like you, apply today!