Senior Software Engineer

1 Month ago • 5-8 Years • Animation

Job Summary

Job Description

Skydance Animation seeks a Senior Software Engineer to partner with artists and engineers to design and implement innovative workflows and cutting-edge solutions for its in-house character tools. Responsibilities include architecting and implementing a robust Python toolset for character assembly, collaborating on new workflows, evaluating code quality, developing scalable solutions integrating with DCC applications (Maya, Houdini), mentoring team members, and fostering a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in VFX or animation (3+ in animation specifically), proficiency in Python and Qt, strong software architecture understanding, and excellent communication skills. A passion for collaboration and a strong understanding of character workflows are essential.
Must have:
  • 5+ years VFX/Animation exp (3+ in Animation)
  • Python & Qt proficiency
  • Strong software architecture knowledge
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Character workflow understanding
Good to have:
  • C/C++ proficiency
  • Real-time animation knowledge
  • Experience with Maya and Houdini

Job Details

Skydance offers a dynamic, inclusive, and ever-evolving culture where innovative ideas are welcomed, and growth fostered. The partnership between unique creativity and technological advancements are demonstrated within each pillar of the company. At the heart of it all is a commitment to boldly entertaining and relevant storytelling.
 
While all Animation studios look to hire people who are creative and hard-working, Skydance Animation is specifically looking for pioneers who seek to push the limits of what the world’s most collaborative art form can achieve, and to give those pioneers the space and the resources to build a new studio that’s doing something different.

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As a Senior Software engineer, you will partner with artists of all these departments, engineers, and other stakeholders to design and implement innovative workflows and cutting-edge solutions, enhancing our in-house suite of character tools. 

Responsibilities

    • Architects and implements a robust Python toolset to streamline the character assembly pipeline, ensuring modularity, scalability, and maintainability. 
    • Collaborates with artists and technical teams to gather requirements and design new workflows and tools that enhance character-creation processes. 
    • Evaluates code quality and performance while contributing to the overall architectural design of the Python codebase within the Characters team. 
    • Develops scalable solutions that integrate into various Digital Content Creation (DCC) applications, such as Autodesk Maya and SideFX Houdini. 
    • Fosters a collaborative team environment, supporting technical guidelines and methodologies such as Agile and Scrum. 
    • Mentor team members by providing technical guidance and best practices. 
    • Demonstrates technical leadership through innovation and problem-solving. 
    • Builds strong relationships with peers, supervisors, stakeholders, and other teams across the studio. 
    • Keeps up on current artistic methodologies and on technology trends and tools that best suit the production and the company in the development of a stronger creative and technical environment.
    • Works together with the team providing them with support, guidance and instruction in areas that contribute towards their artistic and professional growth. (mandatory)
    • Follows the Supervisor’s and Lead's guidance. 

Requirements

    • 5+ years in VFX or animation industries.
    • 3+ years in the animation industry.
    • Experience designing and developing complex user-facing software, preferably in a studio environment. 
    • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field—or equivalent industry experience. 
    • Proficiency in Python, with the ability to write clear, testable, and maintainable code. 
    • Experience developing user-facing interfaces with Qt (PyQt/PySide), designing intuitive, responsive, and production-ready tools for artists and technical users. 
    • Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns to create scalable, maintainable, and efficient tools. 
    • Experience with performance measurement, profiling, and analysis tools. 
    • Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance speed and sustainability in solutions. 
    • Ability to prioritize competing demands based on business value. 
    • Passion for collaborating with in-house artists and engineers to prototype, develop, and support solutions to our filmmaking challenges. 
    • Proficient in English (written and spoken). 
    • Knowledge of character workflows, particularly in rigging, animation and CFX. 
    • Strong understanding of real-time animation, graphics techniques, and geometry processing algorithms. 
    • Strong mathematical fundamentals, including linear algebra, statistics, and numerical methods.  
    • Proficiency in C/C++, ideally C++11/14. 
    • High English level.
    • Spanish desirable.
#Animation #LI-Hybrid

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, interactive, and animation divisions.
 
Skydance is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. We welcome and consider applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy status, military/veteran status, disability, or any other protected category. Diversity in the workplace is not just a commitment, it is who we are and a reflection of what makes our world special.  

Recruitment Fraud Alert
It has come to our attention that there may be fraudulent activity by individuals impersonating our Talent Acquisition team. Skydance will only contact you from an official “@skydance.com” email address. If you suspect that you are being contacted by an unauthorized person or believe that the correspondence you have received is suspicious, please do not click on any links or attachments in such emails and submit any questions or concerns to our information security team at information.security@skydance.com

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About The Company

About Skydance Media 

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, and interactive platforms. Its feature films include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Annihilation, LIFE, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Star Trek Beyond, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Terminator Genisys, World War Z, Star Trek Into Darkness, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and True Grit. Skydance’s upcoming film releases include Top Gun: Maverick, Gemini Man, The Old Guard, 6 Underground and the nwe untitled Terminator film. In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance Television launched in 2013. Its current slate includes Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie on Netflix, Altered Carbon on Netflix, Jack Ryan on Amazon, and Condor on AT&T Audience Network. Skydance Interactive launched in 2016 to create and publish original and IP-based virtual reality experiences and video games. Skydance Interactive recently debuted its first original title – Archangel, a story-driven VR shooter.


About Skydance Interactive

Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality games. The division of Skydance Media was launched in 2016 through the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment. Skydance Interactive’s first VR offering is Archangel, launched on July 18th 2017. Skydance Interactive in 2017 partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies. The studio is located in Marina del Rey, CA. 


About Animation

In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance’s first three animated features are Luck, Split (working title), and Powerless (working title). Luck, directed by Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda 3) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, is a comedy that pulls back the curtain on the millennia-old battle between the organizations of good luck and bad luck that secretly affects our daily lives. Split, directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Linda Woolverton, tells the story of Elian, a teenager who comes of age using her magical powers to defend her family when the opposing forces of light and darkness threaten to divide her kingdom. Nathan Greno (Tangled) is set to direct Powerless. The studio is located in Los Angeles, CA. 

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