Core Assets Technical Director

Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!

Job Summary:

The Core Assets is responsible for supporting creative and visual objectives through pipeline troubleshooting, user support, technical direction, and tool development. The Core Assets TD exhibits solid technical understanding of processes, technology, and tools within Modelling, Rigging, and Look Development for Characters and Environments. This TD participates in the development of artist workflows and tools, and can easily debug problematic workflow steps to support global studio productions in those areas.

• Understand the technical requirements for productions and suggest new technologies, or design procedures, techniques, and tools that will enable these to be met.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance for technology within the Core Assets department.
• Participate in the direction, evolution & maintenance of the technology within the Core Assets Department.
• Design, develop, and write well-maintainable and consistently high-quality code.
• Debug and resolve workflow issues in partnership with Lead TDs, Supervising TDs & R&D.
• Work closely with other TD’s within Core Assets to drive the technical success of key development initiatives.
• Ensure that technology, tools, and procedures within the Core Assets Craft Group support the creative process.
• Provide solutions to visual problems through existing tools or by leading the implementation of new tools.
• Take responsibility for the troubleshooting & optimization of the Modelling, Rigging, and Look Development tools, software, and workflows.
• Actively participate in QA, technical testing, and validation of new technology, tool releases, or pipeline changes, such that artist workflow is not impacted.
• Understand the processes of adjoining departments, provide input where required to maximise pipeline efficiency and quality.
• Actively participate in brainstorming and problem-solving, contributing technical expertise and insight, to create and maintain technology within the canonical production pipeline.
• Support the organisation’s overall technical goals as required.

• Be aware of the deadlines for own development initiatives (both show-based, and facility) and actively engage in keeping these on track.
• Continuously monitor the scope of development initiatives within the Core Assets department and help to ensure scope adjustments have additional estimates, etc.
• Prioritise and break down technical projects into organised parts.
• Work with the Supervising and Lead TDs to prepare estimates and pitches as required.

• Provide technical guidance to Junior TDs and TAs with day-to-day issues and escalation through the right channels when necessary.
• Mentor Junior TDs within the team and assist in orientation with new starters.
• Create synergies between different work groups to promote efficiency and optimization and to generate innovative ideas and approaches to how we do things.

• Strong communication skills for technical ideas, project status, problems, requirements, rollout plans, etc.
• Able to communicate with Program Managers to contribute to scheduling and planning of technology initiatives.
• Able to discuss issues with artists & production in a non-technical way.
• Able to discuss complex issues with developers and supervisors.
• Able to present to small teams (tool demos, Show Contract process, Support Dashboards, etc.).
• Good written communication skills for specs, tickets, status updates, etc.

Experience:

• Relevant education in software engineering and/or film creation process.
• 2+ years of proven pipeline TD experience in large-scale animated features, animated TV series, and/or VFX feature films.
• Solid production/industry experience as a TD, ideally as part of a team.

Skills/Knowledg…