Summary
Doug Macmillan is a Pipeline Engineer and Technical Artist with 12+ years of experience designing tools and pipelines that bridge VFX, simulation, and production software. He has a deep background in Python, PyQt, C++/OpenGL and studio-integrated systems (ShotGrid/Ayon/Flow), having shipped tooling at studios from Tippett and ILM to startups like Zeromatter. Doug excels at cross-functional collaboration, often embedding engineering work directly into large codebases to give artists and testers immediate, visual feedback for complex simulations and sensor validation. He enjoys mentoring others by creating practical tools that increase visibility and impact across teams, and has repeatedly delivered under tight production deadlines (including rescuing VFX-heavy shows and establishing new post pipelines). Notably, he pairs hands-on art direction and lookdev experience with backend engineering—an unusual blend that lets him translate artistic intent into reliable, auditable pipeline software. Based in San Rafael, he brings a long track record of pragmatic problem-solving across film, games, and medical-device simulation domains.
12 years of coding experience
15 years of employment as a software developer
BSc (incomplete) Math, BSc (incomplete) Math at Carleton University