Senior Systems Engineer

Job ID R-04034 Location Emeryville, California, United States Business Pixar Animation Studios Date posted Sep. 16, 2025

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Job Summary:

Pixar is seeking a skilled systems engineer to join our SCALE (Server, Cloud, and Linux Engineering) team, where you'll manage thousands of Linux workstations and render nodes that enable artists to create Pixar's animated films. As part of the collaborative Systems department, we work closely with other teams to ensure Pixarians have the tools to continue to push the boundaries of animation. You'll tackle diverse problems and implement solutions for our Linux infrastructure. You'll join a team that values creative problem-solving, continuous learning, and elegant solutions to complex challenges. You'll coordinate with other systems teams on performance optimization, device configurations, and render farm efficiency. You'll also partner with our studio tools group and occasionally work directly with show teams when unique challenges arise.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Own and optimize Linux infrastructure for thousands of workstations and render nodes that bring our stories to life
Design and implement solutions that scale across our Linux environment
Partner with other Systems teams to ensure seamless filmmaking workflows
Implement creative solutions that secure our assets while keeping artist workflows flowing
Dive into legacy systems while challenging the long-held assumptions within
Proactively identify potential issues and implement fixes before they impact artists
Share on-call responsibilities with a supportive team that has each other's backs
Run periodic early morning maintenance windows that keep our systems running smoothly

WHAT YOU BRING

Genuine curiosity about how your work supports the bigger picture of storytelling
7+ years wrangling Linux systems at scale (RedHat/CentOS experience particularly valuable)
A security-minded yet pragmatic approach
Python and Shell scripting skills that make automation second nature
Configuration / Infrastructure as code experience (Ansible, Puppet, Terraform, etc)
A detective's mindset for troubleshooting across hardware, OS, and application layers
Clear communication skills – you can explain complex issues to both engineers and artists
Strong work ethic with flexibility to adapt to diverse projects and do whatever's needed in a dynamic filmmaking environment

BONUS POINTS

Experience with GPU virtualization (NVIDIA vGPU/GRID)
PCoIP/Teradici remote workstation knowledge
Kubernetes deployment experience
Render farm or HPC environment background
Experience in an Animation or VFX studio environment

WHY PIXAR

At Pixar, you'll tackle meaningful technical challenges while contributing directly to the films that inspire millions. Beyond your technical work, you'll be part of a vibrant community where Pixarians express themselves through art, board games, maker projects, and more—you might find yourself debugging render nodes by day and performing with your band at Pixarpalooza by night.

Our SCALE team offers the perfect blend of autonomy and collaboration. You'll have the freedom to innovate in the Linux space while working closely with other specialized systems teams, forming a supportive ecosystem that keeps Pixar's technology running in a culture where technical innovation and creative expression go hand in hand.

Ready to help us render the impossible? Let's create something amazing together.

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $160,565.00 to $207,790.00 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.

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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

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