Howdy! I'm Kara Johnson

Software Engineer and Technical Artist building pipeline tools for Games and Virtual Production

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Virtual Production Pipeline Engineer

That's No Moon - Unannounced Project

At That's No Moon, I'm currently working as a Pipeline Engineer on the Virtual Production team. I specialize in building tools for motion capture and real-time production, streamlining artist workflows using Unreal Engine (Blueprints, C++) and Python (PyQt5/PySide2). I also support the animation and cinematics teams.

Notable Contributions:

  • Designed and created a central pipeline program that streamlines pre-shoot and motion capture workflows across Lightstorm programs and Unreal Engine
  • Implemented feature to transfer transform data between Unreal Engine assets and internal database, eliminating intermediate steps and need for additional software within the scene assembly process
  • Designed and integrated a new tool request process within existing Slack channels, increasing accessibility and coordination between production, animation, and cinematics teams
  • Refactored folder organization for all shoot data, including writing a script to validate synchronization between local files and Perforce server

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Develop real-time production tools to streamline asset data transfer, pose management, and scene assembly
  • Maintain database for over 15,000 takes, improving cross-team visibility of animation priorities and shot deliveries
  • Write scripts and plugins that extend Unreal Engine, Lightstorm, and motion capture programs for artists and virtual production technicians
  • Prepare stage for filming sessions by markering actors, calibrating ROM, and configuring recording software
  • Collaborate with over 25 producers, animators, and artists to resolve technical issues and implement feature requests

Technical Artist - Tools & Pipeline

Deadlift Studios - Unannounced Game

At Deadlift Studios, I worked as a Technical Artist specializing in Tools and Pipeline on an unnannounced 3rd-person multiplayer combat racing game.

Notable Contributions:

  • Developed Unreal Engine C++ plugin to streamline process of finding and performing common asset actions, such as deleting, renaming, and duplicating, within the content browser
  • Set up Perforce version control integration to manage over 4,000 assets and wrote comprehensive onboarding documentation to ensure consistency across the content pipeline
  • Developed Python plugin to automate workflow for synchronizing material assignment and visualization across Maya and Unreal Engine