Senior Realtime Software Lead – Unreal & Pipeline Tools

The Technology department at Brahma DDU is responsible for creating and supporting the infrastructure that powers DNEG's multi-site, global VFX and Feature Animation studio. With thousands of artists producing tens of thousands of shots across film, TV, and immersive experiences, we face complex scaling and workflow challenges.

As a Senior Realtime Software Developer, you will take on a leadership role within the Realtime Technologies team. While remaining a hands-on technical expert, you will work alongside other leads to guide developers, manage project lifecycles, and act as a bridge between production stakeholders and technical implementation.

The Role

You will help drive the integration of Unreal Engine into Brahma DDU's proprietary pipeline, contributing to a realtime strategy that aligns with the goals of Visual Effects, Feature Animation, and Virtual Production. Beyond writing code, you will focus on architecting sustainable solutions and mentoring other developers within the team.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Architectural Contribution: Collaborate with other team leads to design and implement robust, scalable methods for integrating Unreal Engine with our proprietary global pipeline.
• Tool Development: Design, develop, and deliver high-quality tools for artists across various disciplines, from layout to final pixels.
• Pipeline Integration: Create and maintain robust methods for integrating Unreal Engine with our proprietary global studio pipeline.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead a small, agile sub-team of developers, providing technical guidance and conducting code reviews to foster a high-performance culture.
• Project Management: Oversee the development lifecycle for specific realtime tools - from requirements gathering and scoping to delivery - ensuring milestones are met.
• Stakeholder Involvement: Act as a technical liaison for production VFX Supervisors and HODs, translating creative requirements into actionable technical tasks.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with other Technology groups to ensure realtime initiatives are integrated seamlessly into the studio's broader software infrastructure.
• Quality & Standards: Promote best practices for technical documentation, testing protocols, and CI/CD workflows to ensure the stability of production-critical tools.

Must Have

• Leadership Experience: Proven track record of leading small technical teams or acting as a Lead Developer on complex, multi-person projects.
• Advanced Technical Proficiency: Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine (C++ and Blueprints) and a solid understanding of the Engine's inner workings.
• Programming Skills: Extensive professional experience in C++ and Python within a Linux and Windows environment.
• Project Management Skills: Experience working in (and leading) Agile/Scrum environments, with the ability to manage competing priorities and stakeholder expectations.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and artists.
• Problem Solving: A proactive mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and provide stable solutions under production pressure.

Nice to Have

• Industry Context: Experience with Virtual Production, VFX, or Feature Animation workflows (e.g., USD, OpenColorIO).
• Tooling Expertise: Experience developing artist-facing tools for packages like Houdini, Maya, Nuke, or Katana.
• Systems Knowledge: Experience with multi-user Unreal development and large-scale version control (Perforce/Git) at a studio level.
• Education: A degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Why Join Us?

This is a high-impact leadership role where you will shape the future of realtime technology at one of the world's leading studios. You will have the autonomy to drive innovation while collaborating with world-class artists on the most ambitious projects in the industry.

We would not be able to produce award-winning work without our Technology department, which is committed to nurturing a diverse and exciting workplace. Our teams have a variety of backgrounds and originate from a number of different countries, working across the globe at the forefront of technology in the industry.

Brahma AI & DDU (DNEG Dedicated Unit) operates within BRAHMA AI and works closely with DNEG to develop technology used directly in production. The team builds tools, platforms and workflows that support VFX and Feature Animation pipelines across DNEG's global studios. Much of the work focuses on artist-facing tools, large production pipelines, simulation and rendering workflows, and systems that need to run reliably across distributed teams.

About Us

We are DNEG, one of the world's leading visual effects and animation companies for the creation of award-winning feature film, television, and multiplatform content. We employ more than 9,000 people with worldwide offices and studios across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver), Europe (London), Asia (Bangalore, Mohali, Chennai, Mumbai) and Australia (Sydney).

At DNEG, we fundamentally believe that embracing our differences is a vital component of our collective success. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment for our global teams, where everyone feels they matter and belong. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of background, experience or disability. Please let us know if you need any adjustments or support during the application process, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We look forward to meeting you!