Imaging Technical Director
Netflix
Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!
Job Summary:
The Imaging TD - Review Tools plays a pivotal role in advancing the creative and technical capabilities of our animation studio’s review ecosystem. This position is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining a state-of-the-art review toolset that ensures color accuracy and seamless collaboration across diverse creative teams. By leveraging their technical expertise, the Imaging TD - Review Tools will drive the development of innovative review tools and workflows, facilitating the alignment of artistic intent with technical execution. This role serves as a crucial bridge between technical and creative departments, ensuring that our review processes are not only efficient but also enhance the overall quality and impact of our animated features. The successful candidate will contribute to shaping the future direction of our review technologies, collaborating closely with both internal teams and external partners to achieve outstanding technical outcomes.
What You’ll Do:
Technical Responsibilities:
Understand the processes of adjoining departments(Imaging, Editorial, Creative), provide input where required to maximize pipeline efficiency and review quality.
Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of color-critical review workflows, ensuring accurate color management using ACES/OCIO standards.
Drive the development and integration of officially supported review tools (e.g., RV, ClearView, SyncSketch) into the canonical production pipeline.
Collaborate with creative teams to ensure seamless review experiences and facilitate alignment between technical workflows and artistic intent.
Establish best practices for media management, including synchronized high-fidelity media access across facilities and cloud-based environments.
Act as a liaison between technical and creative teams, ensuring mutual understanding of requirements and solutions.
Actively participate in brainstorming, problem-solving, and technology evolution across Imaging, DI, Compositing, and Color pipelines.
Provide technical expertise and guidance across the Imaging Craft Group, with a focus on enhancing artist-facing review tools and workflows.
Design, develop, and maintain well-structured, high-quality, and maintainable code in Python and PyQt (C++ a plus).
Track and resolve complex technical issues related to both Imaging and creative review tools in collaboration with Lead TDs, R&D, and Supervising TDs.
Drive technical QA, validation, and testing of new tools or changes in the review pipeline to minimize impact on artist workflows.
Stay up to date with industry trends, hardware capabilities (e.g., HDR/SDR, projectors, displays), and software advancements related to color grading and creative reviews.
Support the organisation’s overall technical goals as required.
Provide technical support to review tool users.
Bidding & Scheduling Responsibilities:
Contribute to the planning and tracking of review tools and pipeline development initiatives within Imaging.
Work closely with Project Management and Supervising TDs to develop timelines, estimates, and milestone deliverables for creative pipeline enhancements.
Break down technical projects into organized phases with clearly defined priorities and responsibilities.
Ensure scope changes for review technology implementations are captured and tracked appropriately.
Talent & Performance Management Responsibilities:
Work with Supervising TD for Imaging to provide technical guidance to Imaging TD’s with day-to-day issues and escalation through the right channels when necessary.
Work with Technology Talent Management and Supervising TDs to help further develop the skills and abilities of mid-level TDs within the Imaging Craft Group.
Mentor mid-level TDs within the team and assist in orientation with new starters.
Create synergies between different work groups to promote efficiency and optimization and to generate innovative ideas and approaches to how we do things.
Communication Collaboration & Relationship Development Responsibilities:
Communicate complex technical ideas, project statuses, and rollout plans clearly to creative and technical stakeholders.
Collaborate closely with Media Engineers, IT staff and Post Services Engineers to ensure review spaces are functional.
Represent Imaging & Creative Pipeline in tool demos, support dashboards, show contract process, etc.
Engage with internal Program Managers and creative stakeholders to ensure their review needs are met through robust and intuitive tooling.
Openness to occasional travel to partner locations for tool integration, user training, or collaboration with global creative teams.
Good written communication skills for specs, tickets, status updates, etc.
What You’ll Need:
Experience:
Relevant education in software engineering and/or film creation process.
5+ years of proven pipeline TD experience in large-scale animated features, animated TV series, and/or VFX feature films.
Proven expertise in integrating and supporting review workflows, media sync, and color accuracy within animation or VFX pipelines.
Proven technical achievements within feature animation or VFX.
Skills/Knowledge:
An understanding of traditional techniques appropriate to the Imaging craft group.
Strong knowledge of review tools such as RV, ClearView, SyncSketch, and optionally color grading tools such as Nuke and/or Baselight.
Deep understanding of color management and SDR/HDR workflows in creative review environments.
Expert knowledge in Python as well as PyQt or another GUI toolkit.
Familiarity with USD, Git/GitHub, Jira, and Agile development practices.
Experience with media synchronization workflows, cloud-based access strategies, and display technology.
Solid understanding of data flow, publishing systems, ShotGrid API, and production tracking systems.
Experience with Linux systems, with knowledge of Windows and/or macOS being advantageous.
Experience using and troubleshooting software in the animation domain like Nuke.
Ability to code review and troubleshoot problems as they arise.
Solid understanding of C++ a plus.
Degree in Animation, Film, Computer Science, Design, Engineering, Math or Physics, or equivalent combination of education & work experience in animation/VFX.
Behaviours:
Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
Friendly, approachable, and proactive in knowledge sharing.
Detail-oriented with a commitment to high-quality outcomes.
Able to troubleshoot under pressure and deliver solutions quickly and effectively.
Open to feedback and passionate about driving innovation in creative pipeline technologies.
Trustworthy and reliable.
This role is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hybrid Role (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office).
At NAS, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The overall market range for this role is typically $105,000 - $170,000 CAD. This reflects total compensation; we do not have stock options.
NAS benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, and family-forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off. See more detail about our benefits here.
Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.