Director, Core Engineering

Job ID R-04105 Location Emeryville, California, United States Business Pixar Animation Studios Date posted Mar. 25, 2026

Apply Now

Job Summary:

The Software R&D Core team designs and develops foundational libraries and technologies used by software engineers across Pixar and the broader industry to build high performance graphics applications. These technologies include USD, Hydra, Storm, our proprietary rigging engine, and our in-house application framework. The Core team also includes our UX design team which drives user experience for our proprietary software.

The Director of Core Engineering sets the strategy and execution plans for the Core team in alignment with both short-term and long-term studio priorities. They oversee Team Leads to directly influence the design and evolution of proprietary software solutions supporting and empowering production. This role also maintains relationships with other groups and teams within Software R&D, Systems, RenderMan and various production departments and engineering teams within Disney for technical collaboration and distills incoming feedback into a clear direction and priorities for their Group. The Director of Core oversees key external-facing technologies such as USD, Hydra, OpenExec and OpenSubdiv and is a driver of collaboration with industry partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leads a group of high-performing engineers to identify and deliver foundational technologies enabling novel and innovative tools and workflows
Collaborates with the VP of Software R&D, Directors of Engineering, Engineering Team Leads, and key Production partners to help develop the vision and long-term strategy for the Tools group
Interfaces and collaborates with industry partners regarding USD, Hydra, OpenExec and OpenSubdiv, delivering open-source technologies with industry-wide impact
Leads teams to plan and deliver against production driven roadmaps, both in quality and quantity, in a sustainable way, balancing priorities from a diverse set of stakeholders
Collaborates with technical leads and project managers in Studio Tools, Systems, RenderMan and Production to align goals and priorities, identifying and negotiating cross-team dependencies, facilitating a cohesive, harmonious team dynamic
Initiates, implements and evangelizes engineering practices to build high quality software in a sustainable way
Directly manages a high performance group of team leads, providing technical oversight, promoting collaboration across teams and helping guide recruiting, personnel management and career development
Builds a diverse, inclusive, fair, collaborative, and dynamic environment

REQUIREMENTS:

BS or MS in Computer Science or equivalent
10+ years of industry experience (as an engineer or engineering lead)
5+ years of experience managing or leading a development team
Strong working knowledge of modern software development methodologies and design patterns and experience leading significant software projects/products
Demonstrated success building world class software
Expertise in C++ and Python
Practical knowledge of commercial software used in production and/or for software development
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $243,100.00 to $314,600.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Apply Now

About Pixar Animation Studios:

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renoinswned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. The Northern California studio has created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up,” “Toy Story 3,” “Brave,” “Inside Out,” and “Coco.” Its movies have won 35 Academy Awards® and have grossed more than $13 billion at the worldwide box office to date.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Pixar Inc., which is part of a business we call Pixar Animation Studios.

Pixar Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.

Hiring Process

Where Does Your Story Begin?

Explore Disney Careers and the Life at Disney blog to learn about all the amazing opportunities waiting to be discovered at The Walt Disney Company.
Be Part of the Story

There are many different brands and businesses to explore. Once you've found the opportunity that is right for you, take the next step by completing your application.
The Next Chapter

Once you've applied, you will receive an email allowing you to access your candidate dashboard. Create your login and make sure to check your dashboard often to see your application progress.

Explore this Location Emeryville, CA

The Walt Disney Company entertains, informs and inspires people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative technologies that make ours the world’s premier entertainment company.