Mighty Yeti Studios is a premier creator-owned indie animation house specializing in high-quality kids and family entertainment. We are currently in active episodic production for our flagship preschool series, Classtronauts, and are seeking an experienced Pipeline Technical Director (TD) to join our remote global team.
In an indie studio environment, the Pipeline TD is the backbone of production. We aren’t looking for someone to reinvent the wheel; we need a thoughtful engineer who can step into an active, established pipeline and provide the technical “glue” that keeps our artists moving and our renders flowing. If you enjoy solving real-world production problems and writing elegant, maintainable Python code, this role is for you.
Executive Summary & Role Specifications : Pipeline Technical Director (TD)
| Category | Details |
| Company Name | Mighty Yeti Studios |
| Project Title | Classtronauts (Preschool Animated Series) |
| Role Title | Pipeline (TD) Technical Director |
| Job Type | Remote Freelance / Part-Time Independent Contractor |
| Location | 100% Remote |
| Compensation | $60.00 – $110.00 per hour (Commensurate with specialized expertise) |
| Primary Codebase | Python (Maya, Nuke, ShotGrid APIs) |
| Infrastructure | Rocky Linux (AlmaLinux 9), Deadline, Cloud Storage |
| Experience Req. | 3+ Years in Episodic TV or Feature Animation |
The Studio & Technical Vision
Mighty Yeti Studios operates with a “quality-first” mindset. Our pipeline is built on industry-standard tools but tailored for the agility of an indie studio. We utilize Autodesk Maya, Arnold, and Nuke, all unified through a Python-based toolset and managed via ShotGrid.
As our Pipeline TD, you are a bridge-builder. You ensure that an asset created by a modeler travels seamlessly through surfacing and layout to reach the lighting and compositing teams without technical friction. You prioritize stability and artist-facing simplicity, ensuring our creative team spends their time animating, not troubleshooting broken scripts.
Detailed Job Responsibilities as Pipeline TD
Tool Development & Maintenance
Our pipeline is an evolving organism. You will be responsible for keeping it healthy and expanding its capabilities.
- DCC Integration: Maintain and improve custom scripts and utilities within Autodesk Maya. This includes everything from automated staging tools to custom export/import scripts.
- Code Quality: Write clean, well-documented, and modular Python code. Because we are an active studio, your code needs to be maintainable by others and fit into our existing GitHub/GitLab repositories.
- Automation: Identify repetitive tasks within the animation or lighting workflow and automate them to save hundreds of man-hours across the season.
Render Farm & Infrastructure Support
We rely on a robust Rocky Linux (AlmaLinux 9) render farm managed via Deadline.
- Farm Troubleshooting: Diagnose why a specific job is failing on the farm. Whether it’s a plugin mismatch, a Linux permissions error, or a memory leak in a shader, you are the first line of defense.
- Arnold Workflows: Refine our Arnold render submission tools to ensure AOVs, denoising settings, and sampling are handled consistently across all episodes.
- Color Management: Ensure the ACES / OCIO color pipeline remains consistent from the first frame of layout to the final composite in Nuke.
ShotGrid Integration & Data Management
Data is the lifeblood of episodic production.
- API Development: Use the ShotGrid API to automate asset tracking and publishing. When an artist “publishes” a file, the pipeline should handle the versioning, thumbnail generation, and notification of downstream departments automatically.
- Cloud Workflow: Optimize how our DCCs interact with our cloud-based storage to minimize latency and ensure data integrity for our global remote team.
What We’re Looking For
Technical Requirements
- Python Mastery: You should be an expert in Python, specifically within the context of the Maya (PyMEL/cmds), Nuke, and ShotGrid APIs.
- Linux Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Linux (RHEL/AlmaLinux) in a production environment is essential. You should be comfortable in the terminal and understand shell scripting.
- Color Science: A firm grasp of ACES and linear workflows to maintain visual fidelity throughout the pipeline.
- Deadline Expert: Familiarity with Deadline’s monitor, pulse, and custom plugin architecture.
Professional Experience
- The 3-Year Rule: You must have at least 3 years of experience as a TD in an episodic TV or feature film environment. We need someone who understands the “delivery pressure” of a weekly or monthly episodic schedule.
- Collaborative Mindset: You aren’t just a coder; you are a support pillar. You must be able to explain technical concepts to non-technical artists clearly and patiently.
The “Yeti” Success Factors
- Adaptability: You are comfortable stepping into an existing codebase and building upon it rather than feeling the need to “refactor everything” from scratch.
- Pragmatism: You can balance the desire for the “perfect code” with the reality of a production deadline. You know when a “quick fix” is necessary and when a “permanent solution” is required.
Working as a Remote Pipeline TD
This is a Freelance / Part-Time Independent Contractor role that offers unique advantages:
True Flexibility: We work across multiple time zones. As long as the tools are working and the farm is rendering, you have significant control over your schedule.
Impactful Work: In a smaller studio, your contributions are immediately visible. You aren’t just one of a hundred TDs; you are the person making the production possible.
Remote-First Culture: Our entire infrastructure is designed for remote work. We use modern communication tools to ensure you are never “on an island.”
Application Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate prior experience on an episodic animated series or equivalent fast-paced environment. Please provide a link to your GitHub (or code samples) and a resume highlighting your production credits.
How to Apply
If you are a problem-solver who takes pride in building reliable systems for creative teams, we want to hear from you. Submit your application to Mighty Yeti Studios and help us streamline the world of Classtronauts!