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jobby: Senior Unix Systems Administrator, Production Software Lead, Characters Modeling Artist, Technical Artist-Sets and Characters, Environment Modeling Artist: Pixar Canada, Vancouver

Last updated on April 26, 2010

Senior Unix Systems Administrator
TM & © 1986 – 2010 Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

About Pixar Canada
Pixar Canada is looking for a Senior Unix Systems Administrator for its new studio in Vancouver. Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films. The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars. As a key early hire, this position is critical to the long-term success of the studio. This is an opportunity to help build a world-class organization from the ground-up and to be part of a diverse and talented team.

Summary of Position
The Senior Unix Systems Administrator will help support, implement and plan the systems infrastructure required by the studio and will report to the Manager of Information Systems at Pixar Canada. This is a position that requires close collaboration with our technical staff, software engineers, and production users to best align technical solutions with production schedules and creative needs.

Responsibilities
•Serve as a primary administrator for network attached storage (NetApp, Isilon)
•Provide technical leadership and/or participate in major systems projects
•Troubleshoot server and network issues on various platforms
•Configure and maintain network monitoring systems and security infrastructure
•Configure and maintain LDAP directory services (Sun, Red Hat)
•Perform troubleshooting and support for various NFS clients including Linux and MacOS X as well as a small audience of CIFS clients
•Migrate filesystems as needed to align access patterns with performance capabilities
•Help define and implement policies and procedures for Linux use and administration, including global filesystem namespace
•Oversee and perform general system maintenance, e.g., upgrades, optimization, etc. for storage servers
•Define and maintain standard filesystem configurations
•Serve as troubleshooter and escalation point for end-user support within our cross-platform environment
•Produce documentation for administration and end-users
•Assist other Systems staff as required

Qualifications
•Minimum of 5 years in an IS/IT support position
•In-depth knowledge of NAS and SAN devices
•Experience working with VMWare or other virtualization platforms
•Experience managing network switching hardware
•Self motivation and a strong desire to learn and stay abreast of industry
developments/standards
•Resourceful problem solving
•Experience with Windows and MacOS X and cross-platform integration
•Knowledge of programming (python, perl, C, shell scripting)
•Familiarity with PC hardware, software, and Linux servers
•Familiarity with networking hardware, concepts and remote access issues
•Position requires flexibility and being on-call 24×7
•Pleasant, customer service-oriented personality
•Ability to prioritize, respond, and follow through on multiple requests in a dynamic work environment
•Ability to work well with all levels of management
•Ability to work independently and in a team
•Excellent tracking and follow-through ability
•Excellent oral and written communications skills
•Excellent attention to detail

Submission Process
Please apply online at our website, www.pixarcanada.com.  If you are interested in and qualified for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume with the subject line “Senior Unix Systems Administrator”.

Production Software Lead
TM & © 1986 – 2010 Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

About Pixar Canada
Pixar Canada is looking for a Production Software Lead for its new studio in Vancouver.
Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films. The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars. This is an opportunity to be part of a new, diverse and talented team producing world-class digital character animation.

Summary of Position
The Production Software Lead will be the senior programmer responsible for developing, supporting and extending production-specific software at the Vancouver studio. Pixar Canada’s animation production pipeline is based on the suite of proprietary software developed at Pixar to make its feature films. The Production Software Lead will report to the CTO.

Responsibilities
•Is a hands-on senior software engineer who directly does design, programming, testing, debugging, documentation, and customer support of production software tools.
•Provides leadership and mentoring to other Production Software programmers.
•Supports our proprietary animation system in conjunction with California-based Pixar software engineers. Support includes analyzing and resolving bug reports, and advising other production crew members on how best to use the system.
•Proposes, designs, implements, tests and supports extensions to the animation system.
•Writes and maintains plug-ins for licensed 3rd-party tools such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, Massive, and Photoshop.
•Writes, maintains and supports project-specific programs to aid in the development and deployment of digital models, shaders, effects, and imagery.
•Writes and maintains documentation for local software and local software changes.
•Functions as a very technical Technical Artist (“TD”), providing programming and technical support to other TDs who may not be programmers. Uses programming skills and extensive knowledge of software internals to assist in modeling, shading, rendering and effects.
•Troubleshoots technical problems that arise in the production process.

Qualifications
•Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or engineering.
•Must have strong programming skills (C/C++, Python, Perl) and substantial experience developing software and scripting in a UNIX/Linux environment.
•Must have an excellent understanding of 3D computer graphics theory and practice.
•Must have strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail and quality.
•Must have good written and verbal communication skills, and be able to communicate clearly and effectively with both technical and non-technical users of the software.
•Must be able to work alone and collaboratively, often with multiple tasks and under deadline pressure.
•Must have strong leadership skills and the ability to direct and mentor other software
developers.
•Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.

In addition to these required qualifications, any of the following attributes will be considered a plus:
•Experience in CG animation production for television, film, games or visual effects.
•Experience with a high-end 3D modeling and animation system (such as Maya, Modo, XSI, Houdini or 3D Studio Max).
•Experience with a rendering program such as Pixar’s RenderMan™.
•A good understanding of composition, physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form.
•Skill in drawing, sketching, or sculpting.

Submission Process
Please apply online at our website, www.pixarcanada.com.  If you are interested in and qualified for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume with the subject line “Production Software Lead”.

Characters Modeling Artist

About Pixar Canada
Pixar Canada is looking for several Sets & Characters Technical Artists (“TDs”) for its new studio in Vancouver. Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films. The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars. As a key early hire, this position is critical to the long-term success of the studio. This is an opportunity to help build a world-class organization from the ground-up and to be part of a diverse and talented team.

Summary of Job
The Characters Modeling Artist creates and modifies characters to suit the needs of a particular animation production project.
Takes direction from the project’s creative leadership: the Director, the Production Designer, and the Creative Director.
Reports to the Supervising Technical Director/CTO.

General Duties and Responsibilities
The Character Modeling Artist is responsible for creation, revision, maintenance and support of the digital character assets, responding to guidance and review notes from the director as well as creative and technical supervisors.

Constructing the shapes of digital character models in a 3D modeling system such as Maya and converting such models for use in our proprietary animation system (Menv).
Digital assets must meet standards and specifications with respect to appearance and aesthetics, user interface, performance, and robustness. Character Modeling Artists must support users (other Technical Directors and Animators) who make use of the digital assets.

Qualifications
•Must have 5 or more years experience in CG animation production for television, film, games or visual effects.

•Must have experience with a high-end 3D modeling and animation system (such as Maya, Modo, XSI, Houdini or 3D Studio Max). Skill and experience in the use of subdivision surfaces is highly desirable.
•Must have a good understanding of 3D computer graphics theory and practice.
•Must have good understanding of shape, composition, physical motion, weight and balance.
•Must have good written and verbal communication skills.
•Must be able to work alone and collaboratively, often with multiple tasks and under deadline pressure.
•Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.

In addition to these required qualifications, any of the following attributes will be considered a plus:
•Degree in computer science, art, or engineering.
•Ability to program in a scripting language such as Mel or Python.
•Skill in drawing, sketching, or sculpting.

Submission Process
Please apply online at our website, www.pixarcanada.com.  If you are interested in and qualified for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, link that points us directly to your portfolio or demo reel, along with an itemized list of the portfolio/reel contents,  with the subject line “Character Modeling Artist”. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL DEMO REELS. If you don’t have a website to showcase your work, you may be able to use a free service like Dropbox.

Environment Modeling Artist
TM & © 1986 – 2010 Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
About Pixar Canada

Pixar Canada is looking for several Environment Modeling Artists for its new studio in Vancouver. Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films. The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars. As a key early hire, this position is critical to the long-term success of the studio. This is an
opportunity to help build a world-class organization from the ground-up and to be part of a diverse and talented team.

Summary of Position
The Environment Modeling Artist creates and modifies digital sets and props to suit the needs of a particular animation production project.
Takes direction from the project’s creative leadership: the Director, the Production Designer, and the Creative Director. Reports to the Supervising Technical Director/CTO.

General Duties and Responsibilities
Modeling the geometry of sets and props, and assembling these models into fully dressed sets. As well as expertise with 3D modeling software, the ideal set modeler has a knowledge of architectural styles and is skilled in procedural modeling. Set dressing requires strong visual skills to produce a pleasing composition of objects as seen through the camera view.
The Environment Modeling Artist is responsible for creation, revision, maintenance and support of the digital assets, responding to guidance and review notes from the director as well as creative and technical supervisors. Digital assets must meet standards and specifications with respect to appearance and aesthetics, user interface, performance, and robustness. Environment Modeling Artists must support users (other Technical Directors and Animators) who make use of the digital assets.

Qualifications
•Must have 5 or more years experience in CG animation production for television, film, visual effects or games.
•Must have experience with a high-end 3D modeling and animation system (such as Maya, Modo, XSI, Houdini or 3D Studio Max). Skill and experience in the use of subdivision surfaces is highly desirable.
•Must have a good understanding of 3D computer graphics theory and practice.
•Must have good understanding of shape, composition and architectural design.
•Must have good written and verbal communication skills.
•Must be able to work alone and collaboratively, often with multiple tasks and under deadline pressure.
•Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.

In addition to these required qualifications, any of the following attributes will be considered a plus:
•Degree in architecture, art, computer science, or engineering.
•Ability to program in a scripting language such as Mel or Python.
•Skill in drawing, sketching, or sculpting.

Submission Process
Please apply online at our website, www.pixarcanada.com.  If you are interested in and qualified for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, link that points us directly to your portfolio or demo reel, along with an itemized list of the portfolio/reel contents, with the subject line “Environment Modeling Artist”. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL DEMO REELS. If you don’t have a website to showcase your work, you may be able to use a free service like Dropbox.

Technical Artist – Sets & Characters
About Pixar Canada
Pixar Canada is looking for several Sets & Characters Technical Artists (“TDs”) for its new studio in Vancouver. Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films. The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars. As a key early hire, this position is critical to the long-term success of the studio. This is an opportunity to help build a world-class organization from the ground-up and to be part of a diverse and talented team.

Summary of Job
The Sets & Characters TD creates and modifies digital sets, props, and characters to suit the needs of a particular animation production project.
Takes direction from the project’s creative leadership: the Director, the Production Designer, and the Creative Director.
Reports to the Supervising Technical Director/CTO.

General Duties and Responsibilities
Each Sets & Characters TD will work in one or more of the following areas. You don’t need to be skilled in all three areas to apply.
•Character Modeling: Constructing the shapes of digital character models in a 3D modeling system such as Maya. Converting such models for use in our proprietary animation system (Menv).
•Character Rigging: Adding controls to digital characters. These controls are used to position, move, and pose the models. Rigging requires an understanding of anatomy and expression, and riggers work closely with animators to design a set of controls that support all of the desired range of poses and behaviors. Scripting is often used to construct more sophisticated rigs, so it is valuable for a rigger to have good programming skills.
•Set Modeling and Dressing: Modeling the geometry of sets and props, and assembling these models into fully dressed sets. As well as expertise with 3D modeling software, the ideal set modeler has a knowledge of architectural styles and is skilled in procedural modeling. Set dressing requires strong visual skills to produce a pleasing composition of objects as seen through the camera view.

In all of these tasks, the TD is responsible for creation, revision, maintenance and support of the digital assets, responding to guidance and review notes from the director as well as creative and technical supervisors. Digital assets must meet standards and specifications with respect to appearance and aesthetics, user interface, performance, and robustness. Characters and Sets TDs must support users (other TDs and animators) who make use of the digital assets.

Qualifications
•Must have 5 or more years experience in CG animation production for television, film,
games or visual effects. Skill and experience is required in at least one of the three areas described above.
•Must have experience with a high-end 3D modeling and animation system (such as Maya, Modo, XSI, Houdini or 3D Studio Max). Skill and experience in the use of subdivision surfaces is highly desirable.
•Must have a good understanding of 3D computer graphics theory and practice.
•Must have good understanding of shape, composition, physical motion, weight and balance.
•Must have good written and verbal communication skills.
•Must be able to work alone and collaboratively, often with multiple tasks and under deadline pressure.
•Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.

In addition to these required qualifications, any of the following attributes will be considered a plus:
•Degree in computer science, art, architecture, or engineering.
•Ability to program in a scripting language such as Mel or Python.
•Skill in drawing, sketching, or sculpting.

Submission Process
Please apply online at our website, www.pixarcanada.com.  If you are interested in and qualified for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, link that points us directly to your portfolio or demo reel, along with an itemized list of the portfolio/reel contents, with the subject line “Sets & Characters”. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL DEMO REELS. If you don’t have a website to showcase your work, you may be able to use a free service like Dropbox.

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