Description
Position Overview
SideFX is seeking an exceptional developer with proven talent in producing high performance, large scale, robust software to join its Toronto-based R&D team. Within this role you will help design, enhance and optimize Houdini's procedural pipeline tools. One of your key roles will be to develop new core features for Houdini’s Procedural Dependency Graph (PDG) technology as well as improve the user experience for artists and technical directors alike. As a member of the SideFX Research and Development group, you will be working with some of the brightest minds in the CG industry. Our R&D team has received many prestigious industry awards, including four Technical Achievement Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an Academy Award of Merit (Oscar®), a Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award from NATAS, and four back-to-back Editor's Choice Innovation Awards from CG World Magazine. Movies using our toolset have received the Oscar® for Best Visual Effects every year in the past two decades. We share a passion for innovation in computer graphics and a drive for excellence in animation, visual effects and games. Providing digital artists with the best and most advanced tools for their craft is, and has always been, our singular focus.
Key Duties and Responsibilities*
- Design, develop and test customer-driven features for Houdini's Procedural Dependency Graph (PDG) and Task Operators (TOPs)
- Enhance PDG’s readiness for optimal, large-scale cloud deployment
- Maintain and improve TOPs, including its UI frontend and user-facing APIs
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge on techniques and current practices in the area of software development, computer science, computer graphics, visual effects and games
- Ensure a high level of quality and performance in the developed code architecture and features, with an emphasis on long term viability and superior user experience
- Work on special projects and other strategic and technical opportunities as may be assigned
- Support film and game studios using PDG in production
- Other duties as assigned
*Adjustments will be made to enable duties & responsibilities to be met working remotely considering the current Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Required Skills and Experience
- 2+ years of professional software development experience
- Computer Science degree or equivalent industry experience, with a record of academic and professional excellence
- Strong knowledge of modern C++ programming
- Strong knowledge of Python programming
- Ability to learn independently, think fast, and use solid judgement
- Ability to work well independently and in a nimble team environment
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Positive, professional demeanor
Bonus Skills
- Working knowledge of Houdini and PDG
- Working knowledge of Qt
- Experience with network and cloud computing
- Parallel programming experience
- Cross-platform development experience
- Games or film industry experience
Company Profile
For over thirty years, SideFX has been providing artists with procedural 3D animation and visual effects tools designed to create the highest-quality cinematic results. We are passionate about what our customers do because our roots are in production, both as artists and as pioneering technical innovators.
SideFX has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Science multiple times - including with an Oscar® - for the development of our Houdini software, and its breakthrough procedural-based technology.
Houdini is used by the world’s top film, TV, and game studios to create blockbuster movies like Spider-Man, The Lion King and Godzilla vs. Kong, TV shows like The Crown, Game of Thrones and S.W.A.T., and video games like Ghost Recon, Far Cry and Age of Empires. Our customers include Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Weta Digital, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios, and many more.
Visit https://www.sidefx.com/careers/ for a full list of our current job openings.
Location
Our transit-friendly head office location, directly adjacent to Union Station in the heart of downtown Toronto, is open-concept with a relaxed style that includes, casual dress, and wraparound views from the 14th floor.
Toronto office; Other locations will be considered within our company’s possibilities.
SideFX is committed to inclusion and diversity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. Accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities, upon request.