Senior Effects Engine Engineer

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Beijing / China

About the Role

Join Canva's innovative Engineering team in Beijing as a Senior Effects Engine Engineer, where you'll architect high-performance effect rendering pipelines and intuitive toolchains that power magical video creation for millions worldwide. In our Design Experience Supergroup's Video team, you'll build cross-platform multimedia effects SDKs supporting iOS, Android, Web, and desktop, integrating cutting-edge features like 3D effects, facial tracking, dynamic shaders, and AI-driven real-time effects into Canva's custom rendering engine. Your work will accelerate effect development, optimize asset management, and ensure seamless experiences across devices, directly empowering Canva's global community to unlock creative expression. What sets this role apart is Canva's design-first culture—collaborate closely with designers, AI experts, and product teams to translate research into stunning, production-ready capabilities that push visual boundaries. Prototype next-gen multimodal effects, develop creator tooling for testing and lifecycle management, and scale high-performance rendering that feels effortless in the browser. We're on a mission to make every user a storyteller through intuitive video tools, and you'll be at the core of this innovation. At Canva, you'll thrive in a collaborative, inclusive environment that values bold ideas and rapid iteration. Gain expertise in modern graphics, ML deployment, and multimedia UX while shaping intelligent cross-platform video products. With full English proficiency required, you'll communicate seamlessly in our global team, passionate about solving complex visual challenges to fuel creativity at scale. If you're excited to blend technical depth with creative impact, this is your chance to create magic with Canva.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a cross-platform multimedia effects SDK supporting iOS, Android, Web, and desktop
• Develop tooling for special effects content creation, testing, and asset lifecycle management
• Design mobile-side effect asset management systems for optimal storage, loading, and updates
• Integrate new visual features like 3D, facial effects, and dynamic shaders with Canva's custom rendering engine
• Prototype and productionize next-gen effects including AI-powered, multimodal, and real-time effects
• Translate industry research into productized capabilities with stunning visual fidelity
• Collaborate with design, AI, and product teams to elevate Canva's effect ecosystem
• Architect high-performance effect rendering pipelines and intuitive toolchains
• Ensure seamless integration across platforms and devices for Canva's global community
• Optimize rendering performance to unlock creative expression in video features

Required Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in C++ for engine and SDK development
• Solid experience in Java, Objective-C/Swift, and JavaScript/TypeScript
• Experience in mobile app development and performance optimization
• Proficiency in at least one graphics API (OpenGL, Metal, Vulkan, DirectX) and shader languages (GLSL, HLSL)
• Familiarity with large-scale codebase management, Git, and automated testing practices
• Full proficiency in English communications
• Ability to design scalable graphics architectures

Preferred Qualifications

• On-device AI deployment experience (e.g., CoreML, QNN)
• Experience with DCC tools (e.g., Maya, Substance)
• Background in video editing or multimedia rendering pipelines
• Proven track record of cross-platform SDK development
• Experience integrating AI-powered visual effects

Required Skills

• C++ engine development
• Cross-platform SDK building
• Graphics APIs (OpenGL, Metal, Vulkan, DirectX)
• Shader programming (GLSL, HLSL)
• Mobile performance optimization
• Asset management systems
• AI visual effects integration
• Real-time rendering pipelines
• Large-scale codebase management
• Git version control
• Automated testing
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Visual creativity with designers
• English communication
• Prototyping innovative effects
• Scalable graphics architecture design

Benefits

• Flexible hybrid work model in Beijing, China
• Competitive salary and equity in a high-growth company
• Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs
• Generous parental leave and family support
• Learning stipend for professional development and conferences
• Free Canva Pro subscription and creative tool access
• Team offsites, social events, and collaborative culture
• Relocation support for top talent
• Impactful work shaping the future of creative tools

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.