Senior Houdini Technical Artist/Software Engineer

Overview

We are seeking a full-time Senior Houdini Technical Artist/Software Engineer in our Olathe, KS or Cary, NC location to work on golf projects. In this role, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership and asset development as an individual contributor. The goal is to create and optimize high fidelity golf courses for the Home Tee Hero simulator within the technical capabilities of Garmin's hardware and software platforms.

Essential Functions

• Develops, improves, and maintains complex procedural pipelines that generate high fidelity 3D environments from extensive datasets using Houdini SOPs
• Creates highly accurate 3D golf courses using multiple sources of map data and art assets
• Creates and maintains HDAs to facilitate the procedural generation of 2D and 3D geometry, features, and attributes
• Creates and maintains Houdini TOPs networks to facilitate massively parallel geometry generation
• Collaborates with other Houdini, Unity, and pipeline developers using Git source control
• Navigates competing technical and artistic constraints to produce an algorithmically sound and aesthetically pleasing geometry generation system
• Identifies and troubleshoots geometry rendering failures, implementing solutions or assisting stakeholders with fix
• Works with other departments to navigate pipeline upgrades and release new features in a timely manner
• Produces documentation on tools, methods, training, processes, and constraints for future reference and consultation
• Participates in project leadership and/or program planning including providing technical input to product development plans and concept documents

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Math, Physics or related field AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
• Proficiency with Houdini Surface Operators (SOPs) and Houdini attribute workflows
• Proficiency with scripting nodes (VEX, Python) in the Houdini context
• Proficiency with Geometry HDA creation, maintenance, and version control
• Familiarity with Houdini Tasks (TOPs)
• Familiarity working with large data sets in Houdini, and in navigating hardware resource constraints
• Demonstrated proficiency with designing well architectured software systems and modules that support new technology or improve capability/performance of existing functionality
• Demonstrated capability to offer peer technical assessments in areas of expertise, new technologies and software designs
• Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Must be positive, detail oriented, organized, team oriented and a driven problem solver, multi-tasker, and self-starter with the ability to prioritize and lead in a fast paced, deadline-driven environment

Desired Qualifications

• Outstanding academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5)
• Excellent knowledge of 3D modelling software, 2D photo editing software (3D studio max, Houdini, Substance Designer, Painter, Photoshop)
• Experience developing WPF C# tools
• Familiarity with Houdini Copernicus (COPs) or Apex
• Familiar with Unity, Unreal, or real-time 3D rendering workflows
• Familiarity with render farms and distributed workflows in Houdini

Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran's status, age or disability.

This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits