General Summary At LAIKA, technology meets artistry to tell timeless stories through groundbreaking stop motion animation. As our Lead Visualization Pipeline Engineer, you’ll be a key architect in the digital magic behind our handcrafted worlds. From previs to puppet to pixel, you’ll engineer the connective tissue that brings imagination to life—building tools, workflows, and systems that power our unique brand of storytelling.
You won’t just write code—you’ll enable artists, fabricators, and filmmakers to collaborate seamlessly across departments. You’ll innovate in real-time technologies like Unreal Engine, support virtual production on physical stages, and design smart solutions for one-of-a-kind production challenges. This is where craft meets code.
Job Functions
Design and maintain the digital pipeline that bridges concept art, physical builds, rapid prototyping, and virtual production—with a focus on Unreal Engine, Maya, and other digital content creation (DCC) tools.
Lead the technical development of asset flow across departments: from previs to stage to VFX and beyond.
Build intuitive tools that empower practical artists and traditional makers to embrace digital workflows to enhance their craft.
Monitor and optimize performance in complex virtual environments—keeping everything running smoothly from camera to render.
Explore emerging creative technologies, prototype innovative systems, and bring fresh ideas to life through R&D and smart integrations.
Follow best practices in software development, including source control, documentation, testing, and build processes.
Collaborate on user-friendly interfaces and rock-solid backend systems for asset management, render farms, disk usage, and more.
Ensure scalability and consistency across all tools and APIs—thinking big, building smart.
Develop plugins and extensions for DCC tools including Maya, Houdini, Vectorworks, Inventor, Rhino, Unreal Engine.
Share your knowledge and mentor fellow TDs and engineers across the pipeline.
Qualifications
5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer in VFX, animation, or game production pipelines.
Advanced Python skills, comfortable with PySide/PyQt and other modern frameworks.
Comfortable with Perforce/Helix, whether as a user or administrator.
Experienced with virtual production tools—mocap rigs, LED walls, camera tracking systems.
Fluent in at least one other language beyond Python (C++, Rust, Go, etc.)
Skilled at developing for multiple platforms (Linux, MacOS, Windows).
Familiar with tools of the trade like USD, Maya, Houdini—and bonus points if you know CAD/CAM software Inventor or Fusion 360.
Curious, collaborative, and excited to work at the intersection of old-school craft and cutting-edge tech.
Bonus: experience with game engines like Unity, Unreal, or Godot.
Physical Demands and Work Environment 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.
Location On-site in Hillsboro, OR
Salary Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.
Disclaimer 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.
Lead Visualization Pipeline Engineer