Software Engineer, Tools Sets & Layout (Applications)

Job ID R-03899 Location Emeryville, California, United States Business Pixar Animation Studios Date posted Mar. 24, 2025

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Job Summary:

Pixar’s Software R&D department (Tools) develops and maintains our in-house movie production software. With several movies and short projects in production at any given time, Pixar is an exciting and dynamic environment where adaptable and motivated individuals thrive. Our storytellers and artists are constantly seeking to extend our creative and technological reach, and everyone has a chance to contribute! We are seeking a skilled engineer to join the team that provides the software that production artists use to build the meticulously detailed sets and the rich, expansive, living environments featured in our films, as well as the software that production artists use to scout locations, block out shots, and direct the camera in these virtual sets. In this role, you will be responsible for balancing short-term production requests with the long-term health and development of our technology and pipeline. This team is creating the next generation of Pixar’s bespoke applications and tools, requiring strong collaboration with artists on a spectrum of technical experience, as well as software designers, project managers, and engineers from other Pixar Software R&D teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintain and improve the software individually and collaboratively within a team of engineers
Work directly with technical and non-technical artists to support their use of Pixar's proprietary filmmaking software
Identify, triage, debug, and resolve high-priority issues affecting production artists
Work comfortably within a sophisticated, multi-layered technology pipeline

QUALIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated experience with and strong understanding of modern C++ and the STL with at least three years of professional experience
Experience and proficiency writing applications and scripts in Python
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent formal training
Strong software engineering skills including familiarity with software design principles, performance optimization, and testing
Familiarity with the fundamental mathematics of computer graphics
Appreciation for the importance of long-term code health, peer review, automated testing, and documentation
Additional experience that is valuable but not required for this role include 3D DCC applications (e.g., Maya, Houdini), USD, Qt, and Linux
Experience working within VFX or animation production environments is a plus

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $145,265.00 to $187,990.00 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.

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About Pixar Animation Studios:

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renoinswned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. The Northern California studio has created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up,” “Toy Story 3,” “Brave,” “Inside Out,” and “Coco.” Its movies have won 35 Academy Awards® and have grossed more than $13 billion at the worldwide box office to date.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Pixar Inc., which is part of a business we call Pixar Animation Studios.

Pixar Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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