Senior Backend Technical Director II (SFD / Cinematics)

Team Name:

Cinematics

Job Title:

Senior Backend Technical Director II (SFD / Cinematics)

Requisition ID:

R026161

Job Description:

Blizzard Entertainment is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Backend Technical Director (TD) II to join our team and help with the adoption of Universal Scene Description (USD) into our existing pipeline.

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA. However, we understand each person’s circumstances may be unique and will work with you to explore other possible options, including remote work arrangements.

What You Bring to the Table

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

This role will focus on updating and optimizing backend workflows, ensuring that the integration of USD enhances our backend’s (FX, Lighting, Simulation) ability to create visually stunning, animated cinematics. The successful candidate will collaborate with artists, supervisors, and technical teams to build efficient, flexible, and scalable workflows that align with production needs.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong knowledge backend pipeline development. If you have a passion for problem-solving and want to help shape the future of lighting in animation, we want to hear from you!

Minimum Requirements

Experience

• 12+ years' experience using and/or writing tools or plugins in third-party computer graphics programs and renderers such as Katana, Houdini, Nuke, RenderMan, and Redshift

• Experience developing and working in a USD pipeline

Knowledge & Skills

• Developing, modifying, deploying, and debugging software

• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills

• Strong verbal and written communication and collaboration skills

• Understanding of computer graphics concepts such as rendering and shaders

• Understanding of techniques and technologies relating to CG pipelines and workflows, from asset creation to final compositing

Key Attributes

• Ability to shift priorities during production schedule changes

• Desire to function in a technical support role

Extra Points

• Proficiency in Python and object-oriented programming

• Experience working in Windows or Linux environments

• Experience crafting tools in PyQt

• Ability to teach, guide, and educate lighting artists methodically toward their own debugging to champion self-sufficiency in their own work

• Provide practical feedback on the lighting pipeline and offer potential solutions on how to improve them

• Bachelors or higher in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Engineering, or related fields

• Familiarity with Blizzard games and Cinematics

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and fin