At LAIKA, innovation meets artistry in every frame—and behind the scenes, our engineers bring these visions to life through pipelines that blend the physical with the digital. We’re looking for a Sr Pipeline Technical Director to help build and evolve the technical foundation that supports our award-winning characters, environments, and storytelling.
The Sr Pipeline TD is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and support of foundational systems in LAIKA’s digital content creation pipeline. This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and digital artistry, empowering teams across puppet fabrication, rapid prototyping, and our emerging Virtual Art Department (VAD) workflows.
Job Functions- Design & Build Tools: Develop robust scripts, tools, and plugins (primarily in Python and/or C++) to support digital fabrication across Maya, Houdini, and other DCC and CAD applications.
- Support Creative Workflows: Partner with artists, TDs, and production teams to streamline complex workflows and translate creative concepts into smart, scalable technical solutions.
- Drive Innovation: Contribute to new digital modeling and 3D printing workflows using Houdini, Maya, and CAD systems.
- Maintain Stability: Champion best in source control (Git, Perforce) and continuous integration to ensure our systems stay smooth and production ready.
- Problem-Solve in Real Time: Troubleshoot issues in the pipeline, offer proactive support, and deliver fast, thoughtful solutions to keep production humming.
- Optimize & Document: Continuously improve pipeline performance and create clear, user-friendly documentation for a wide range of technical backgrounds.
- 5+ years of experience developing custom tools within an animation or VFX studio environment.
- Expertise in Python including the standard library, Qt Toolkit (PySide, PyQt), and common 3rd party libraries and frameworks.
- Experience integrating Houdini into a production pipeline and leveraging its various API.
- Experience with C++, a plus.
- Experience with additional DCCs such as Maya, a plus.
- Experience with SCM tools such as Git and GitLab.
- Experience developing for Linux required; Mac and Windows experience, preferred.
- Experience with printing, a plus.
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.
On-site in Hillsboro, OR
SalarySalary is commensurate with skills and experience.
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.
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What We Do
LAIKA was founded in 2005 in Oregon and is guided by the vision of its President & CEO Travis Knight. Located just outside Portland, Oregon, LAIKA was awarded a Scientific and Technology Oscar® for its innovation in 3D printing in 2016. Its five films - Missing Link (2019); Kubo and the Two Strings (2016); The Boxtrolls (2014); ParaNorman (2012), and Coraline (2009) - were all nominated for Oscars® and PGA Awards as Outstanding Animated Film. Missing Link was the first LAIKA film to win the Golden Globe® for Best Animated Feature and was awarded two Visual Effects Society (VES) awards for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature and Outstanding Animated Character, and received seven Annie Award nominations. Kubo received a second Oscar® nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects and won the BAFTA Award, as well as three Annie Awards, the National Board of Review's Best Animated Feature citation, and 19 regional and critics’ group awards. The Boxtrolls earned Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe Award nominations and 13 Annie Award nominations, more than any other film that year. ParaNorman garnered BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and GLAAD Media Award nominations, won two Annie Awards, and was cited as the year’s best animated film by 14 critics’ groups. Coraline earned Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice nominations and was named one of the year’s 10 Best Films by the American Film Institute (AFI). For more information, visit http://www.LAIKA.com.
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