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Computer Science Film Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Physics or Engineering with 2+ years of in-depth experience ... Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery * Occasionally moves ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Physics or Engineering with 2+ years of in-depth experience ... Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery * Occasionally moves ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Senior Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Bachelor Degree in Materials Science, Physics or Engineering with 3-5 years of in-depth experience ... Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery * Occasionally moves ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Senior Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Bachelor Degree in Materials Science, Physics or Engineering with 3-5 years of in-depth experience ... Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery * Occasionally moves ...

Apple

Video Content Data Scientist

Culver City, CA · On-site

Minimum Qualifications Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering ... Passion for film, television, and/or Sports domains. Hands-on experience with app-based engagement ...

Pixar Animation Studios

Research Scientist

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$162K - $210K/yr

... film productions. This role bridges the gap between academic research and practical studio ... Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, or a related field. * Experience: 2+ years of post ...

Apple

Video Content Data Scientist

Culver City, CA

$175K - $263K/yr

Passion for film, television, and/or Sports domains. Hands-on experience with app-based engagement ... Minimum Qualifications Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering ...

Onto

Staff Applications Scientist

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$115K - $172K/yr

Collaboration and support will result in solutions for complex multi-layer thin film measurements ... Computer science * Experience with software modeling/statistics/data analysis/ fitting concept ...

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Computer Science Film information

How does a computer science professional collaborate with filmmakers during the production of visual effects (VFX) in the film industry?

Computer science professionals working in film, especially in visual effects (VFX), often collaborate closely with directors, VFX supervisors, and artists to develop and implement technical solutions that bring creative visions to life. This involves creating or optimizing software tools, writing custom scripts, and solving complex rendering or simulation challenges. Communication skills are vital, as you'll translate artistic needs into technical specifications and ensure that delivered solutions integrate seamlessly with existing production pipelines. This role offers opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies while engaging in a creative, team-oriented environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a computer science film professional?

To excel as a Computer Science Film professional, a strong background in computer science fundamentals, programming (such as Python or C++), and an understanding of digital media are essential, typically supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with visual effects software (like Maya, Blender, or Houdini), video editing tools, and possibly certifications in animation or VFX are commonly required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective teamwork distinguish top performers in this interdisciplinary field. These skills are vital for developing innovative visual effects and seamless digital storytelling in the film industry.

What is computer science film?

Computer science film refers to movies, documentaries, or visual media that focus on topics related to computer science, such as programming, hacking, artificial intelligence, and the impact of technology on society. These films can be educational, exploring technical concepts, or fictional, dramatizing the world of computers and technology. They often serve as a bridge between technical audiences and the general public, making complex computer science topics more accessible and engaging.

What is the difference between Computer Science Film vs Software Developer?

AspectComputer Science FilmSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Film, or related fields; knowledge of programming and multimedia toolsBachelor's in Computer Science or Software Engineering; programming certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentFilm studios, multimedia production companies, or freelance projects involving tech and filmTech companies, startups, or corporate IT departments
Industry UsageCombines tech skills with film production, often for multimedia content creationDevelops software applications, websites, or systems across various industries

Computer Science Film focuses on integrating computer science skills with film and multimedia production, while Software Developer primarily creates software solutions for diverse industries. Both roles require programming knowledge but differ in their application and work environment.

What are popular job titles related to Computer Science Film jobs in California? For Computer Science Film jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Computer Science Film jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Computer Science Film jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Computer Science Film jobs? Cities in California with the most Computer Science Film job openings:
Computer Science Film jobs near you
Infographic showing various Computer Science Film job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 10% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Computational Scientist, Structural & Thermal

Periodic Labs

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

About Periodic Labs
Periodic Labs is an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, semiconductors, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.
About the Role
Periodic Labs is building AI systems that can simulate physical science, verify predictions, and train on the full scientific method. We are looking for a Computational Scientist to develop structural, thermal, and coupled thermo-mechanical simulation capabilities for semiconductor systems and advanced materials.
This role is for someone who thinks of themselves as both a scientist and a software engineer. You understand solid mechanics and heat transfer at a level that goes beyond configuring a commercial FEA package, and you are comfortable building, extending, or automating solvers when the physics or scale of the problem requires it.
What You'll Do
  • Develop agent-based structural and thermal simulation capabilities for semiconductor systems, including wafer stress and warpage, thin-film residual stress, thermo-mechanical reliability, thermal budget modeling, process-induced deformation, fracture and delamination, and coupled heat-stress problems.
  • Build or extend custom solvers where commercial FEA tools are too slow, too opaque, or insufficiently flexible. This may include custom FEM implementations, phase-field fracture models, crystal plasticity codes, thin-film mechanics frameworks, or reduced-order mechanical models, written in Python, C++, or Julia.
  • Model materials behavior at the level the physics requires: elasticity, plasticity, viscoelasticity, creep, fracture, diffusion-induced stress, thermal expansion mismatch, interfacial mechanics, and materials evolution under process conditions.
  • Validate models against experimental measurements including wafer metrology, curvature and bow measurements, DIC, profilometry, nanoindentation, or failure analysis data.
  • Design and curate evaluation datasets in collaboration with RL researchers to train LLMs capable of directing complex simulation pipelines.
  • Generate simulated datasets for ML training in regimes where experimental coverage is expensive or difficult to achieve.
  • Build and automate simulation pipelines at scale, architecting workflows that connect simulation outputs to data infrastructure, ML systems, and autonomous experimentation loops.
You Will Thrive Here If You Have
  • Periodic Labs is an early-stage startup, and we're looking for someone who can bring technical leadership to modeling structural and thermal behavior in semiconductor devices, not necessarily someone who already has every skill listed below. A strong growth mindset, demonstrated ownership, and a track record of getting up to speed quickly in new technical areas are much more important than experience in semiconductors.
  • A PhD or equivalent research experience in mechanical engineering, materials science, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field, with a strong foundation in solid mechanics and heat transfer. Early-career candidates with strong research or engineering output are encouraged to apply.
  • Hands-on experience with computational mechanics at the code level: writing or substantially modifying FEM codes, implementing constitutive models, or developing custom solvers for structural or thermal problems.
  • Familiarity with open-source simulation frameworks such as FEniCS, deal.II, MOOSE, or similar is a strong positive signal. Contributions to open-source projects that others actually use are even better.
  • Strong Python skills, with C++, Julia, or Fortran proficiency a plus. Experience running simulations programmatically at scale rather than through point-and-click tools.
  • Deep understanding of solid mechanics theory: continuum mechanics, tensor formulations, constitutive modeling, variational methods, and numerical methods for PDEs.
  • Experience using mechanics or thermal simulations to explain experimental observations, guide materials or process decisions, or surface failure mechanisms that were not obvious from measurement alone.
  • Genuine curiosity about AI and a desire to work at the boundary of simulation and machine learning.
Strong Candidates May Also Have
  • Experience with GPU-accelerated FEM, reduced-order mechanical models, surrogate models, or physics-informed neural networks for structural problems.
  • Familiarity with multiscale mechanics: bridging from atomistic or DFT-informed potentials through molecular dynamics, mesoscale methods, and continuum mechanics.
  • Deep expertise in thin-film mechanics: residual stress, Stoney equation regimes and their limits, film-substrate interactions, delamination, and stress evolution during deposition.
  • Experience with wafer-scale mechanics: bow, warp, thermal cycling reliability, packaging-induced stress, or interconnect mechanics in advanced packaging contexts.
  • Background in fracture mechanics or damage modeling: LEFM, cohesive zone models, phase-field fracture, fatigue, or statistical failure models.
  • Knowledge of semiconductor metrology, failure analysis, or process integration that gives physical intuition for how models connect to real manufacturing decisions.
Mechanics:
  • Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or similar experience
  • Location: Menlo Park, CA (Soon: San Francisco, too)
  • Compensation: $225,000-325,000 + equity
  • Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process.

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