Senior Technical Director (Production Technology)

7 Hours ago • 6 Years +

Job Summary

Job Description

The Senior Technical Director is responsible for developing and supporting innovative tools for production teams to efficiently create animated films. This involves implementing solutions that off-the-shelf software cannot provide while maximizing productivity. The role requires developing and deploying global and core technologies, collaborating with artists and engineers to refine tools, and identifying areas for pipeline improvements. Strong project management, communication, and teamwork skills are essential. The Senior Technical Director will also mentor junior team members. The job involves developing, testing and deploying global and core technologies that support all the productions. Also, follow design patterns and team technical guidelines. Partnering with artists, show TDs, and other engineers to iterate, debug, document, and refine tools and processes for feature film production.
Must have:
  • 6+ years in visual effects or animation industries.
  • BS degree in Computer Science or related field.
  • Deep understanding of 3D animation pipelines.
  • Expert in Python programming language.
  • Experience in Linux operating systems.
  • Experience with version control systems (Git).
  • Ability to document digital processes and technical solutions.
Good to have:
  • Experience in C++, Rust
  • Experience with Renderman is a plus.

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.
 

For information on Skydance’s privacy practices, see the Skydance U.S. Personnel Privacy Notice located at https://skydance.com/privacy-personnel/.

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The Senior Technical Director develops and supports innovative tools for our production teams to efficiently create the animated films at Skydance. The goal of these efforts is to implement solutions that off-the-shelf software could not otherwise provide, while maximizing productivity with the high-quality standard set by the company. The scope of the developments may be from a simple python script to a larger development involving complex algorithms.

Responsibilities

    • Develop, test and deploy global and core technologies that support all the productions
    • Follows design patterns and team technical guidelines
    • Partners with artists, show TDs, and other engineers to iterate, debug, document, and refine tools and processes for feature film production
    • Reports to the Production Technology Supervisor on the status of technical development projects, tool performance, production operations and support statuses
    • Continually examines production’s user experiences, satisfaction, and level of understanding to identify areas of improvement to the production pipelines
    • Strong project management skills; being self-motivated, organized, resourceful and prudent, supported with excellent communication skills
    • Works together within the TD team, sharing ideas, support, guidance, and instruction to the more junior members of the team

Requirements

    • 6+ years in visual effects or animation industries
    • BS degree in Computer Science, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
    • Deep understanding of the 3D animated film production pipelines, and workflows (artistic and technical)
    • Expert in Python
    • Experience building tools for the following software: Maya, Houdini, and Nuke
    • Experience in Linux operating systems
    • Experience in C++, Rust is a plus
    • Experience working with version control systems (Git)
    • Experience with Renderman is a plus
    • Ability to document digital processes and technical solutions
    • Practical knowledge in continuous delivery and agile methodologies
    • Applies innovative processes and techniques by bringing new ideas or solutions
    • Highly skilled in expressing, transmitting and presenting new ideas in presentations or in writing to clearly articulate strategic ideas
    • Able to clearly communicate project statuses to both technical and non-technical audiences
    • Makes the team goal a priority and expresses positive expectations
    • Delivers assigned duties with the quality level required and on time with high levels of professionalism, completeness, commitment and strong work ethic
    • Clearly meets the expectations on the duties assigned with low supervision, encouraging and inspiring some other less experienced colleagues to do so
    • Acts as mentor inside and outside their team, establishing an effective working relationship and a fluid communication environment, contributing to the individual and group achievement of objectives
    • Exemplifies a strong work ethic
    • Advanced English level, Spanish oral and written a plus
The hourly range for this non-exempt position in Connecticut is $65-82/hour. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors.  The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc. 
 
We realize that skills and expertise can come from many different experiences and paths, and we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements as written in the job description.

#Animation #LI-onsite

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.
 
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 https://skydance.com/report-suspected-fraud/.

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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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