Tech Lead - Pipeline Development

About the role

BOT VFX, a visual effects services company with global clients, is hiring a full-time permanent Tech Lead for Pipeline Development, preferably based in Chennai, India. The role oversees technical execution, software architecture, continuous delivery practices and technical standards across the studio's pipeline engineering group, reporting directly to the Head of Pipeline. It ensures that core technical frameworks, internal APIs and artist-facing tools enable the delivery workflow efficiently and predictably.

Key responsibilities

• Translate architectural roadmaps and high-level designs into detailed technical specifications, modular code and sprint tasks.
• Write clean, documented Python and/or C++ code for core pipeline modules, internal APIs and tool integrations.
• Enforce software engineering practices such as peer code reviews, CI/CD and unit testing.
• Mentor Pipeline Developers and Pipeline TDs on code quality and technical implementation.
• Build user-friendly graphical interfaces via PySide/Qt.
• Integrate open-source technologies (AYON/OpenPype, USD) and commercial DCC APIs (Nuke, Maya, Houdini).
• Act as the main technical contact for bug fixing and deep code troubleshooting during production.

Required profile

• At least 8+ years of professional software development, including 2-3 years in a technical lead, module lead or senior engineering role.
• Background in VFX or feature animation pipeline engineering, 3D graphics/rendering/simulation/image or video processing, enterprise software, high-throughput media processing or distributed systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills, PR review habits and ability to mentor developers.

Required skills

• Advanced Python (Python 3) and/or C++ with object-oriented design and design patterns.
• Desktop GUI apps with Qt/PySide or equivalent.
• Git, automated testing, CI/CD, REST APIs and database structures.
• Preferred: DCC APIs (Nuke, Maya, Houdini), USD/Alembic, pipeline tools (AYON/OpenPype, ShotGrid/Shotgun, Ftrack), Linux and shell scripting.