Pre-Production 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 Pre-Production Technical Director is responsible for supporting creative and visual objectives through pipeline troubleshooting, user support, technical direction, and tool development for front-end craft groups, including Story, Edit, Art, Concept, Design, Visual Development, and Previs. As a technical expert, the Pre-Production Technical Director exhibits a deep understanding of processes, technology, and tools within these domains. They contribute technical expertise to the design and development of artist workflows and tools, ensuring that the pre-production process is efficient and integrated with the overall production pipeline.

What You’ll Do:

Technical Responsibilities:

• Understand the visual requirements for productions and suggest new technologies, or design procedures, techniques, and tools to meet these requirements.

• Provide technical expertise and guidance for all technology within the Pre-Production department.

• Contribute to the direction, evolution, and maintenance of the technology within the Pre-Production Department.

• Design, develop, and write well-maintainable and consistently high-quality code.

• Track and resolve the most complex technical issues within Pre-Production in partnership with other TDs and Software Engineers.

• Work closely with other TDs and Software Engineers within Pre-Production to drive the technical success of key development initiatives.

• Ensure that technology, tools, and procedures within the Pre-Production 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 and optimization of Pre-Production tools, software, and workflows.

• Actively drive the QA, technical testing, and validation of new technology, tool releases, or pipeline changes, ensuring artist workflow is not impacted.

• Understand the processes of adjoining departments and provide input where required to maximize 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 organization’s overall technical goals as required.

Bidding & Scheduling Responsibilities:

• Be aware of the deadlines for own development initiatives and actively engage in keeping these on track.

• Continuously monitor the scope of the most technically challenging development initiatives within the Pre-Production department and help to ensure scope adjustments have additional estimates, etc.

• Prioritize and break down technical projects into organized parts.

• Work with the Supervising TD to prepare estimates and pitches as required.

Talent & Performance Management Responsibilities:

• Work with the Supervising TD for Front-End to provide technical guidance to Pre-Production TDs with day-to-day issues and elevate through the right channels when necessary.

• Work with Technology Talent Management and Supervising TDs to help further develop the skills and abilities of mid-level TDs within the Front End Craft Group.

• Mentor mid-level TDs within the team and assist in orientation with senior 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.

Communication Collaboration & Relationship Development Responsibilities:

• Strong communication skills for technical ideas, project status, problems, requirements, rollout plans, etc.

• Able to communicate with Program Managers to contribute to the scheduling and planning of complex technology initiatives.

• Able to discuss complex issues with Senior Software Engineers, developers, and supervisors.

• Able to present to small teams (tool demos, Show Contract process, Support Dashboards, etc.).

• Good written communication skills…