At LAIKA, we craft breathtaking stop motion films with cutting-edge technology. As a Sr Software Engineer for Studio Pipeline, you’ll play a crucial role in building and optimizing the tools that bring our animated worlds to life. You’ll collaborate with engineers, artists, and department leads to develop software solutions, streamline workflows, and enhance production tracking systems – ensuring our storytellers have the best possible tools at their fingertips.
Join us in pushing the boundaries of stop motion storytelling—where technology and creativity collide to bring unforgettable stories to life.
- Develop and enhance core software tools for production tracking, digital asset management, and workflow automation.
- Collaborate with the database developers on best practices relating to schema design and database use.
- Full-stack development of web applications, including server-side logic, database design, and RESTful API integration in a hybrid on-prem + cloud environment.
- Reimagine ShotGrid event handling services, integrating all current event-based services into a unified, high-performance system.
- Solve complex technical challenges as we transition from on-prem ShotGrid to the cloud service, converting pipeline tools used in active production.
- Continually drive the optimization and simplification of LAIKA’s ShotGrid database schema.
- Design and implement high-performance media solutions, ensuring seamless linking of local assets to cloud-based metadata.
- Participate in Agile sprint activities, contributing to requirement gathering, planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, reviews, and releases.
- Champion best practices in coding, testing, and software development, conducting code reviews and driving technical standards across teams.
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Proven ability to lead projects and deliver innovative technical solutions in a production environment.
- Expert-level ShotGrid knowledge, including Python and REST API customization.
- Proficiency in one or more programming languages: Rust, TypeScript, Python, Swift.
- Strong expertise in databases like PostgreSQL, Redis, MySQL.
- Experience with Linux container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes) and agile software development.
- A passion for film production technology, with a drive to create powerful, scalable tools for artists and engineers.
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, and eligible for hybrid or remote work (in CA, OR or WA only).
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.
Similar Jobs
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.
