Manager, Production Engineering (ILM-San Francisco)

Job ID 10159541 Location San Francisco, California, United States Business Industrial Light & Magic Date posted Sep. 30, 2026

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Job Summary:

We are looking for an ambitious and kind leader who reflects the innovative spirit, collaborative mindset, and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM.

This position manages a group of software developers across our Production Engineering Departments - R&D and Core Pipeline. In this role, your primary mission is the growth, well-being, and professional development of our R&D and Core Pipeline Engineers in close coordination with global technology leadership. This position will be based in San Francisco as a hybrid role.

Technical direction and roadmap for Production Engineering are set by global technology leadership and senior technical staff. This role is accountable for the people, staffing, budget, and operational health of the local function, and partners closely with those technical leaders to deliver in that direction. Because this role hires, evaluates, and develops software engineers working on complex graphics and pipeline systems, strong technical fluency is essential.

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 3 days onsite at a Company designated location and occasionally from home.

What You’ll Do

Manage a team of R&D/Core Pipeline Engineers at ILM, leading technical hiring, performance evaluations, and promotion calibration to drive engineering quality and impact.
In collaboration with global technology leadership and project management, support engineering projects by facilitating communication and enforcing department standards and practices, and ensuring a proper level of production technical support.
Contribute to the definition and evolution of global engineering practices, including structured technical interviews, career growth and leveling frameworks, and onboarding programs for new engineers.
Partner with managers across global ILM and Lucasfilm Technology departments to break down silos, enhance cross-departmental communication, and establish joint initiatives to foster collaboration, share technical frameworks and promote best practices.
In collaboration with local studio leadership, advocate for site-specific technology and pipeline issues within the global organization.
In collaboration with the local studio and global technology leadership, manage the local studio R&D/PE department budget.
Perform special projects as needed.

What We’re Looking For

8+ years of experience in computer graphics software engineering or VFX production.
4+ years in a leadership role managing large teams; an ideal candidate would have experience leading technical or production based teams.
Bachelor’s degree; preference to be in an Engineering or computer science discipline; advanced degree considered an asset, or a combination of equivalent education and work experience.
Leadership skills: ability to drive consensus among technical leaders and key artists and end users; ability to manage and guide engineers.
Comprehensive knowledge of computer graphics and visual effects production.
Technical fluency sufficient to follow architecture and code-review discussions and evaluate engineering trade-offs.
Extensive experience in software engineering and software release processes.

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $126,500.00 - $169,600.00. 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. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About Industrial Light & Magic:

Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 325 feature films and has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box-office hits of all time and has contributed to 25 of the top 50. ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, the company continues to break new ground in visual effects, VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema.

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 Lucasfilm Ent Co Ltd, LLC Payroll Svc, which is part of a business we call Industrial Light & Magic.

Lucasfilm Ent Co Ltd, LLC Payroll Svc 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.

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Explore this Location San Francisco, CA

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