Experienced Pipeline TD

Sony Pictures Imageworks is hiring an Experienced Pipeline TD based out of their Vancouver, British Columbia studio. This role sits at the technical core of the VFX pipeline, responsible for building and maintaining the tools and procedures that move assets through rigging, animation, simulation, layout, and shot management on CG and VFX productions. If you have production floor experience writing pipeline code that artists actually depend on to hit their deadlines, this role was built for you.

About the Role

The Experienced Pipeline TD works across departments to keep complex scene dependencies organized and asset publishing running cleanly on feature film and animation productions. Day to day, that means developing Python tools, building PyQt/PySide interfaces, supporting automated publishing and data validation workflows, and troubleshooting whatever the production throws at you. You will work directly with supervisors, production staff, and department peers to solve problems in real time and keep the pipeline moving.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain pipeline tools in Python that support character rigging, animation, simulation, props, layout, cameras, and shot asset management across active productions.
• Build and refine user interfaces using PyQt/PySide to give artists clean, functional access to pipeline processes without requiring them to touch code.
• Manage complex scene dependencies across multiple departments, ensuring geometry conversions and asset approval processes stay organized and on schedule.
• Support automated publishing workflows and implement data validation techniques to reduce errors moving through the VFX production pipeline.
• Contribute to Unreal Engine integration work including scene management, sequencer-based operations, DCC data exchange between Maya and Unreal, and USD-based pipeline workflows.
• Attend dailies and briefings, interpret supervisor feedback, and translate notes into concrete technical solutions without losing context between sessions.

What You Bring

• Five or more years of Pipeline TD experience on CG or VFX productions at a studio level.
• Strong Maya and Python skills, with a real track record of tools that shipped and were used in production.
• Hands-on experience with PyQt or PySide for UI development, and solid working knowledge of Linux and git.
• Familiarity with Katana, Houdini, USD, or Unreal Engine is a meaningful advantage, particularly for the visualization and real-time pipeline work on this show.
• C++ experience is a plus but not required.

Why This Role

Sony Pictures Imageworks has a long track record on major animated features and VFX productions, and their Vancouver studio gives pipeline staff direct access to production teams working at that level. The anticipated base salary for this position ranges from $45.34 to $65.10 per hour, with benefits including healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSPs, and sick and vacation leave. This is a project-based, full-time role conducted in English on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

Apply now for the Experienced Pipeline TD position at Sony Pictures Imageworks and put your VFX pipeline work in front of one of the most recognized studios in the industry.