Simulation (Houdini) - Technical Engineer

Sony Pictures Imageworks•Vancouver, BC

1d•CA$100,000 - CA$120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Sony Pictures Imageworks is looking to expand its development team dedicated to enhancing its Creature Effect, Crowds, Environment, and FX tools and workflow. This role requires a highly proficient Technical Engineer to focus on the development and implementation of robust, high-performance, and domain-specific procedural toolsets using SideFX Houdini. The role demands strong technical leadership and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision alongside a Lead Software Engineer or Architect, thriving in a fast-paced production environment with shifting priorities.

Requirements

3-5+ Years of professional experience in developing procedural workflows and tools in a VFX, Animation, or Game production environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Houdini environment, including tool creation, optimization, and workflow techniques.
Strong proficiency in Python and VEX for writing efficient, custom nodes, and tool wrappers.
Proven experience developing and supporting production pipeline tools and asset delivery.
Experience leveraging the Houdini API and other DCCs like Katana.
Strong grasp of 3D math, linear algebra, and data structures as applied to geometry processing and simulation.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Capable of delivering on multiple competing priorities with little supervision.

Nice To Haves

Applies curiosity and judgment to identify broader or systemic issues and recommends creative approaches that address wider issues.
Documented experience with desktop application development using PyQt/PySide to create custom user interfaces.
Experience with C++ for high-performance plugin development.
Experience with data science, machine learning, or complex simulation techniques (e.g., fluid dynamics, cloth) in a production context.
Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Digital Media, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement scalable procedural systems and workflows within Houdini for various departments (FX, Creature, Crowds, Environments).
Create, maintain, and optimize robust Houdini Digital Assets (OTLs), ensuring stability, ease of use, and adherence to production standards.
Extend the core pipeline by developing, integrating, and supporting tools that manage data flow, asset publishing, and version control.
Collaborate closely with artists (Creature, FX, Lighting) to gather requirements and troubleshoot technical issues, providing support for both in-house and commercial tools.
Partner with engineers across other teams (Shading, Lighting, Rendering) to ensure seamless integration of procedural assets into the overall rendering and compositing pipeline.
Document tools and workflows thoroughly for use by the wider artistic and engineering teams.