Head of Technology - Ink

Position Summary At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we partner with creators as they experiment with a range of cutting‑edge tools that bridge innovation with imaginative storytelling. Come join Inkubator to shape what’s next and explore the creative possibilities. The Head of Technology at INK is responsible for executing on the overall technology vision and strategy for our next‑generation, creative‑led, GenAI‑native animation studio. This role sits at the intersection of creative, production, and engineering—owning the end‑to‑end technology stack that powers INK’s short‑form content creation, from artist tools and production workflows to infrastructure, security, and data platforms. They will lead a team of engineers and workflow specialists, partner closely with INK leadership, Producers, Directors/Creators, Artists, and Technical Directors, and collaborate deeply with Netflix technology teams across tool building, data science, studio infrastructure, security, IT, and more. Key Responsibilities Technology Strategy & Leadership Partner with INK and Netflix leadership to align technology roadmaps with the studio’s creative, production, and operational goals. Translate high‑level studio objectives into a coherent technology portfolio that balances exploratory R&D, near‑term production needs, and long‑term platform investments. Build and manage a team of engineers and workflow specialists who can independently drive development in a rapidly changing environment. Champion a culture of experimentation, rapid prototyping, and continuous learning around new tools and methods of filmmaking. Provide technical leadership for INK’s end‑to‑end production pipeline, including: Generative workflows Asset and material generation, management, and standards Production tracking, review, and editorial support tooling Real‑time, 2D, CG and hybrid pipelines used in partnership with GenAI technology Lead evaluation and selection of tools, models, and workflows, ensuring they are robust enough and customizable for production—partnering with Netflix engineering to leverage internal solutions where relevant. Identify workflows that can be templatized or automated and drive their implementation into reusable, scalable solutions. Guide research into: Scalable inference and training technologies Data pipelines and standards for training and fine‑tuning models (including LoRA‑based approaches) Best practices for sourcing and generating visual data using traditional pipelines, real‑time engines, video capture, and 2D animation. Establish guidelines around data governance, model lifecycle management, and ethical, secure AI usage. Collaborate with Netflix infrastructure, IT and security teams to ensure INK is supported by a robust architecture of: Distributed compute for artist workstations and scalable training/inference workloads Storage, asset management, and data pipelines across shows Networking, access control, and environment isolation for multiple concurrent productions Personal equipment, hardware and software Partner with security teams to ensure best practices for identity, permissions, data protection, and secure collaboration across locations. Work closely with production and creative leadership to assess feasibility and cost of new creative and technical approaches, present trade‑offs and recommendations when scope, schedule, or resources need adjustment, and ensure technology supports nuanced storytelling, visual ambition, and rapid iteration. Collaborate with cross‑functional partners (Finance, Talent, Recruiting, Operations) on resource planning, vendor selection, and long‑term technology investment. Foster a culture of knowledge sharing, documentation, and collaboration between tech and creative teams. Maintain strong relationships with external technology providers and vendors across the industry landscape to understand key vendor roadmaps that may impact INK. Qualifications 12+ years of experience in technology roles within animation, VFX, games, or closely related digital content industries, including significant time in pipeline, tools, or infrastructure leadership. 7+ years of management and strategic leadership experience overseeing multidisciplinary engineering/technical teams, ideally across multiple concurrent productions or locations. Proven experience designing and operating end‑to‑end content pipelines (animation, VFX, or real‑time) that intersect with distributed compute, scalable storage and data management, production tracking and review systems, and artist‑ and show‑facing tooling and APIs. Demonstrated understanding of Generative AI or ML‑driven workflows (e.g., image/video generation, style transfer, asset generation, LLM‑ or LoRA‑based customization) and the associated data and infrastructure requirements. Strong understanding of building and maintaining secure, multi‑tenant environments for multiple shows, including IAM, environment isolation, and compliance considerations. Familiarity with modern and emerging software development technologies and AI‑assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, internal Netflix solutions), and how to integrate them into scalable studio workflows. Track record of partnering directly with creative leaders (Directors, Producers, Artists, TDs) and translating creative needs into practical and innovative technology solutions. Excellent communication skills; able to explain complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders and synthesize show‑specific solutions into common, reusable workflows. Strong financial and strategic acumen, with experience managing technology budgets, evaluating ROI, and making trade‑off decisions between short‑term needs and long‑term platform investments. Deep curiosity about new and emerging technologies, especially GenAI and real‑time methods of filmmaking, with a bias toward practical, production‑ready applications. Empathetic and collaborative when it comes to change management and working with creative teams. Champion of inclusive, positive, and psychologically safe team culture aligned with Netflix and INK values. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Animation Technology, or related field; or equivalent professional experience. An advanced degree is a plus. This job is based in the US. Benefits & Compensation The overall market range for this role is typically $548,000 - $811,250, reflecting total compensation; bonuses are not included. Inkubator benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, family‑forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off. Equal‑Opportunity Employer Statement We are an equal‑opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service. #J-18808-Ljbffr