Senior Shader Writer

The Senior Shader Writer will collaborate with Art Directors, the Digital DOP and Lead Lighting TDs to drive the look development of CG assets and write/create shader-based solutions for production needs. This is an artistic, problem-solving position and as such requires a keen aesthetic eye and a deep technical understanding of 3d rendering and shader writing.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Designs and writes shaders under the aesthetic direction of the Digital DOP (Lighting) and Art Director.
• Works with Digital supervisors and R&D to ensure all shaders are optimized, production ready and fit into studio standards and conventions.
• Helps establish studios shader writing conventions and texturing and shading workflow and pipeline.
• Provides aesthetic and technical guidance for all areas of production shading.
• Contributes to cross departmental workflow improvements between the Art Department, R&D, FX and Lighting Technical Directors.

• High level mathematical skills are required with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience preferred.
• 3 years of experience as a Renderman shader writer with a portfolio that shows ability to create photoreal surfaces for feature film work.
• Strong aesthetic sense and ability to propose solutions without requiring lower level guidance.
• Experience with HDRI, SSS and Global Illumination.
• Ability to balance technical and aesthetic concerns in creating art directable, photoreal shaders.
• Strong working knowledge of a production-level pipeline a necessity, experience as a lighting technical director preferred.
• Proven knowledge and experience with writing DSOs and programming shaders using Python, RSL and/or C++ on Unix based operating systems.
• Proven knowledge of Maya and Houdini and Renderman compliant renders,
• Must work well in a team environment, have strong organizational and communication skills.
• Experience with hardware shading languages would also be an asset.