Contract - Senior VFX Network Engineer

Thea Energy is seeking a Senior VFX Network Engineer to manage high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency infrastructure designed for render farms, large data transfers, and real-time artist collaboration. You will play a critical role in optimizing the creative vision of our VFX CG Visualization team by implementing innovative networking strategies and robust pipeline architectures.

Key responsibilities

• Research and implement networking strategies to optimize the creative vision of the VFX CG Visualization team.
• Configure and validate the Deadline Cloud Submitter, including queue setup and render node configuration.
• Build an internal 3D asset transfer system for batch file and scene directory management between desktops and virtual machines.
• Optimize VFX configurations to ensure low latency in OpenGL-dependent DCC applications across desktop and virtual environments.
• Enable a Linux shell-based system for launching applications with show-specific environment variables to automate render farm settings.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in network configuration for VFX pipelines, specifically servicing render farm deployments and CG asset pipelines.
• 5+ years of Linux, macOS, and Windows system administration experience, including advanced networking and scripting.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Bash, with the ability to manage Maya userSetup scripts and MEL/Python callbacks.
• Deep understanding of storage and networking, including NFS, NAS storage clusters, and enterprise-scale hardware maintenance.
• Proven experience with render farm management, specifically AWS Deadline, and familiarity with per-show environment pipeline patterns.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on high-impact VFX infrastructure in a fully remote environment.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams to define and document enterprise-scale architecture.
• Engagement in complex technical challenges involving cloud rendering and high-speed data routing.