# David Kaplan > Technical Director | Aerospace Engineer | Founder | AI/ML | ex-FAANG Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/davidkaplan ## Work Experience ### Senior Software Engineer @ Pyka Jan 2025 – Present Building the future of large autonomous electric fixed-wing CTOL aircraft, solving critical agricultural and logistics challenges around the world. Developing software systems for flight controls, avionics, mission planning, and sensor processing. ### Senior Realtime Pipeline Technical Director @ Apple Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | Sunnyvale, California, United States * Senior software engineer on Apple’s Marcom CG Studio team. * Developed tools for realtime native 3D graphics pipelines and VFX artists. * Wrote software focusing on Maya and USD scene translations and export. * Built user interfaces, publishing tools, asset management APIs, and Maya plugins. * Worked cross-functionally with art directors, technical artists, and engineering managers. * Wrote proposals, specs, and roadmaps. * Set best-practices, unified APIs, and eliminated substantial technical debt. Worked with Maya, Houdini, Python, C++, Universal Scene Description (USD), WebGL, Three.js, glTF. ### Senior Software Developer @ Hero not found Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 AI & Unity software developer and technical director for immersive experience design. Wrote custom AI chatbots in Python built on Langchain and Pipecat frameworks, and wrote character animation integrations into Unity. ### Founder @ David Kaplan Studio Jan 2018 – Jan 2024 Founded and managed David Kaplan Studio, a creative technology consultancy and brand focused on 3D software development and technical direction. We worked with clients to produce multimedia immersive installations, design robotics systems, and build VR/AR interactive experiences. We focused on: * Creative direction, project management * Realtime & interactive projection mapping installations * LED programming * CNC & lasercut design and fabrication * 3D modeling and rendering * Robotics Technologies: * C++, Python, Lua * Maya * TouchDesigner * Unity * Fusion360 * Arduino ### Senior Software Engineer @ NuminaStudio Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco, California, United States * Collaborated with over 50 local artists to produce "NOCTURNE-X", a large-scale 3-month immersive art installation at Gray Area Foundation. * Developed logic & control software for interactive systems in C++ and Python. * Wrote software controlling mechanical (stepper motor), LED, audio, and serial communication systems. * Orchestrated communication across several microcontroller systems. ### Lead Software Engineer @ Autodesk Jan 2014 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco Bay Area * Lead C++ development and onsite testing of large format (BAAM) 3D printing processes. * Developed FDM 3D printing software for consumer and professional products, worked on production and R&D. * Developed slicing, toolpath, and G-Code generation libraries in C++11, Python, Fortran, Lua, and Go. * Supported 6 products including Print Studio, Netfabb, Spark, Forge (Platform Services), and Fusion 360. * Lead a long-term industrial R&D project in collaboration with external manufacturing partners including * Oak Ridge National Labs and Local Motors. * Managed DevOps, software unit testing, and hardware testing at Autodesk’s Pier 9 research facility. * Oversaw support for more than 100 3D printer models and multiple GCODE flavors. ### Production Software Engineer @ Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Lucasfilm Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 Production Engineering at ILM is responsible for creating and supporting the pipeline infrastructure services used by developers and artists within the company. * Developed software in Python and C++ supporting the VFX production pipeline. * Worked 50/50 to triage urgent production needs and develop long-term R&D initiatives. * Maintained the studio’s complex Python-based backend, including asset management, tool development, media creation, data synchronization, storage backup, and render farm management. * Worked with technology, production, and art departments. ### Pipeline Technical Director @ Tippett Studio Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 | Berkeley, CA * Developed and maintained visual effects software and tools for artists in animation, lighting, rigging, effects, and compositing. * Worked with the R&D manager and CG supervisors to ensure smooth rendering and technical operations of productions. * Balanced production-driven tasks with long-term R&D goals. * Major development and maintenance responsibilities included geometry caching, publishing tools, debugging render jobs, Maya menus and scripts, delivery processing, and SVN repository structuring. * Developed several new systems including an animation library system, farm playblasts, a facial rigging system, and a new fur FX pipeline. * Reported to the head of R&D, and worked with VFX supervisors to triage issues, eliminate downtime, and support each show’s unique technical needs. * Developed in Python, C++, MEL, shell scripts, Perl, Lisp, and Qt interfaces. Focused heavily on Maya tools and plugins. * Debugged render jobs and maintained the rendering queue. * Maintained asset publishing, media generation, rendering, and configuration software Film Projects: Ted, Breaking Dawn Part II, Mirror Mirror. Television Projects: Ted Oscars, Ted Jimmy Kimmel Live, Buick advertisement. ### Hutmaster @ Appalachian Mountain Club Jan 2005 – Jan 2011 | White Mountain Region, NH Managed a remote backcountry lodge and a crew of ten in the White Mountains serving over 100 overnight guests. Responsible for all operations of the hut including food preparation, guest service, environmental education, crew dynamics, facility management, and coordinating searches & rescues. Maintained off-the-grid systems including solar, wind, water, compost, sewage, electric, and propane. ### Teaching Assistant @ Cornell University Jan 2006 – Jan 2010 | Ithaca, NY Taught introductory and advanced computer animation courses. Responsibilities included developing tutorials, lecturing, grading, critiquing, managing student groups, and render wrangling. ### Ski Instructor @ Greek Peak Mountain Resort Jan 2009 – Jan 2009 | Cortland, NY Telemark Ski Instructor. Responsibilities included lesson planning, skier safety, and structured feedback and instructioon of students. ### Research Assistant @ MIT Jan 2003 – Jan 2003 | Cambridge, MA Designed mechanical components for the LIGO space science research group. LIGO is a gravitational-wave observatory. ## Education ### M.S. in Computer Graphics Cornell University ### B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Cornell University ### NOLS ### Concord Academy ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davemkaplan - Website: https://www.davidkaplan.io/ - Website: https://github.com/davidkaplan --- Source: https://flows.cv/davidkaplan JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/davidkaplan/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-01