Sr. Software Engineer, Platform

Pixar's Software R&D team develops the studio's in-house proprietary animation software. We are looking for software engineers committed to building state-of-the-art production tools for our artists. Our Platform Software Engineers are responsible for helping craft and maintain new software for Pixar's asset system, production pipeline and software development infrastructure. Applicants for this position will require a deep understanding of software application engineering, an ability to collaborate in a large cross-functional team of developers, and skill in designing and implementing robust, easy to maintain software systems.

Responsibilities:

• Own the full software development lifecycle from design and implementation to testing and maintenance of robust pipeline software within a Linux environment

• Develop and optimize both user interfaces and backend systems, including those for asset management and developer tooling, ensuring scalability and consistency across all tools and APIs

• Collaborate with other technology teams, actively participating in code reviews, design discussions, and team meetings

• Empower users by building and continually improving intuitive tools that enhance workflows for artists and developers, while proactively responding to and investigating user requests

• Innovate and explore emerging technologies and continuously seek ways to improve performance and capabilities in complex environments

• Champion best practices in software development, including source control, documentation, testing, and build processes

• Effectively communicate work status through project proposals and documentation

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science plus 5 years experience, advanced degree in Computer Science plus 3 years experience, or equivalent industry experience

• Proven track record of building high-quality APIs and applications in Python and C++

• Experience with systems programming in a Linux environment

• Strong software engineering, test planning and execution, and time management skills

• Experience collaborating with GUI design teams (familiarity with Figma a plus) and programming in frameworks such as Qt

• Ability to troubleshoot with a high attention to detail and quality

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to support and collaborate with both technical and non-technical software users

• An appreciation for and commitment to well-documented code

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with animation or VFX pipelines

• Familiarity with build automation tools and continuous integration systems (GitLab CI/Jenkins)

• Experience with version control systems (Perforce/Git/GitLab)

• Previous experience working with Docker, Kubernetes or other container orchestration platforms

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $160,565.00 to $207,790.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.