Demo

Lead Software Engineer, RenderMan

Skydance Media
New York, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 1/20/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/18/2025

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.

Remember to check your CV before applying Also, ensure you read through all the requirements related to this role.

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.

Skydance Animation is seeking a highly skilled Software Engineer with a specialty in RenderMan to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and maintaining our rendering pipeline using Pixar's RenderMan. This role involves close collaboration with artists, technical directors, and other engineers to ensure the highest quality rendering output and efficient workflows. The candidate should possess strong programming skills, deep knowledge of rendering techniques, and experience with RenderMan.

Responsibilities

  • Provide leadership through expert knowledge to a production studio adopting RenderMan
  • Interface with Pixar RenderMan Engineering team to stay abreast on upcoming changes and devise an on-ramp for adopting and integrating new features
  • Stay current with the latest advancements in rendering technology and implement new techniques to improve visual quality and efficiency
  • Advise and participate in developing and maintaining the rendering pipeline using RenderMan
  • Advise and participate in the Integration of RenderMan into the studio’s existing workflows and tools, which are primarily in Houdini / Solaris, with some in Maya
  • Implement techniques to manage geometry complexity, optimize lighting and shading computations, and improve overall rendering efficiency
  • Lead the design and architecture of rendering solutions using RenderMan, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability
  • In partnership with the productions provide timelines, milestones, and on-time delivery of rendering projects
  • Communicate with stakeholders, including artists, producers, and other technical teams, to understand requirements and provide updates on progress
  • Assist with debugging issues that require deep RenderMan knowledge
  • Collaborate with the Skydance cloud rendering provider and IT group to maximize resource usage while minimizing cost per render-unit
  • Provide guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers, fostering technical growth and best practices

Requirements

  • Bachelor or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field
  • 6 years of experience in rendering engineering or a similar role in the visual effects, animation, or gaming industry
  • Proven experience with Pixar's RenderMan in a production environment utilizing Houdini with Solaris
  • Strong proficiency in C and Python
  • Deep understanding of rendering techniques, including ray tracing, global illumination, subsurface scattering, motion blur, depth of field, and physically based rendering
  • Experience with shader development using MaterialX Lama, RSL, OSL, or similar shading languages
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative, international environment
  • Effective communication and teamwork skills
  • The salary range for this position in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey is $170,000 – $185,000. The salary 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.

    J-18808-Ljbffr

    Salary : $170,000 - $185,000

    If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
    Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

    What is the career path for a Lead Software Engineer, RenderMan?

    Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Lead Software Engineer, RenderMan career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
    Income Estimation: 
    $123,167 - $152,295
    Income Estimation: 
    $146,673 - $180,130
    Income Estimation: 
    $146,673 - $180,130
    Income Estimation: 
    $176,149 - $220,529
    Income Estimation: 
    $77,657 - $95,021
    Income Estimation: 
    $97,257 - $120,701
    Income Estimation: 
    $97,257 - $120,701
    Income Estimation: 
    $123,167 - $152,295
    Income Estimation: 
    $123,167 - $152,295
    Income Estimation: 
    $146,673 - $180,130
    View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

    Job openings at Skydance Media

    Skydance Media
    Hired Organization Address Santa Monica, CA Full Time
    If you are passionate about making movies and television, Skydance is the place for you! Our creative divisions are led ...
    Skydance Media
    Hired Organization Address Santa Monica, CA Full Time
    At Skydance Interactive, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in interactive entertainment. Innovati...
    Skydance Media
    Hired Organization Address Los Angeles, CA Full Time
    Skydance Animation is seeking a Graphics Artist to join the Art department on an upcoming 3D animated feature film. This...
    Skydance Media
    Hired Organization Address Santa Monica, CA Full Time
    At Skydance Interactive, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in interactive entertainment. Innovati...

    Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Lead Software Engineer, RenderMan jobs in the New York, NY area that may be a better fit.

    Lead Software Engineer, RenderMan

    Skydance, New York, NY

    Software Engineer III

    Lead Bank, New York, NY

    AI Assistant is available now!

    Feel free to start your new journey!