Hi, I'm Dhruv Govil.

Software Engineer · 3D Artist · UI / UX Designer

Overview

I'm a software engineer, 3D artist, and designer with over a decade of experience across film VFX, realtime graphics, and spatial computing. My work sits at the intersection of creative craft and systems engineering - building the tools, open standards, and frameworks that power how 3D content is created and experienced.

My range spans low-level rendering, platform architecture, creative pipeline workflows, open-standards leadership, UI/UX design, and hands-on 3D artistry. I find solutions that serve both engineers and creatives - because I've spent my career being both.

Experience

Principal Software Engineer, Vision Products Group, Apple

April 2026 - Present

  • Working on system frameworks and applications for Spatial Computing platforms.

Spatial Media Standards Engineering Manager, Vision Products Group, Apple

October 2023 - April 2026

  • Led development of Apple 3D applications.
  • Led a team to work on and improve the spatial standards ecosystem with technologies like OpenUSD and MaterialX, including improved support for Apple platforms.
  • Oversaw development of Gaussian Splats schema and PMC mesh compression in OpenUSD.
  • Created industry-first Accessibility support for 3D scenes.
  • Oversaw contributions to Blender and Maya USD to support better interchange.
  • Architected and oversaw development of machine learning data processing pipeline.
  • Served as Technical Advisory Council chair for Alliance for OpenUSD.
  • One of the lead contributors for the Alliance for OpenUSD Core Specification and Reference Implementation.
  • Oversaw development of Apple system USD libraries and feature architecture.

Principal Software Engineer, Vision Products Group, Apple

October 2022 - October 2023

  • Worked on visionOS first party applications for Reality Composer Pro.
  • Founding member of the Alliance for OpenUSD.
  • Co-created App Clip Codes. Responsible for generation algorithm, initial visuals and leadership demos.
  • Shepherded and co-developed multiple USD initiatives. Contributor to Pixar USD, MaterialX, Blender and Maya USD.
  • Worked as and with UI/UX designers to create intuitive artist and engineering workflows.
  • Awarded design and rendering patents for innovations in AR / VR.

Senior Software Engineer, Vision Products Group, Apple

February 2020 - October 2022

  • Architect for 3D content pipeline workflows within Apple.
  • Managed internal Apple content pipeline software for USD.
  • Contributor to Blender and Maya's USD support.
  • Lead Engineer on Reality Converter.

Lead Technical Artist, Vision Products Group, Apple

August 2018 - February 2020

  • Worked on application prototypes and concepts for the Apple Vision Pro.
  • Responsible for creating UI, UX and Art Content for multiple projects. Includes creating interface design, interaction design, asset modelling, lighting, shading, rigging and animation.
  • Created concept art, software prototypes, presentations and video productions for Apple leadership.
  • Awarded Augmented Reality content, rendering and simulation patents.
  • Developed Augmented Reality applications using RealityKit and Swift, as well as Unity and C#.
  • Developed several AR applications as both an artist and engineer.
  • Provided training sessions to artists and engineers.

Pipeline and Layout Supervisor, Sony Pictures Imageworks

October 2016 - August 2018

  • Developed and maintained critical Pipeline software for all active shows in production.
  • Oversaw a team of Pipeline TD's and Layout Artists on Visual Effects and Animated Features.
  • Developed new Shot Review and Approval Pipeline with 100x improvement in performance using a new frontend and server architecture.
  • Co-Developed a Virtual Production system with tracked virtual cameras, a motion capture stage and Virtual Reality asset/scene reviewing.
  • Created a Proof of Concept port of our pipeline to use Pixar USD.
  • Developed a bespoke pipeline to Unity for an Augmented Reality Project.

Pipeline TD and Layout Artist, Sony Pictures Imageworks

January 2013 - October 2016

  • Production software development and artist support on VFX and Animation shows.
  • Handled camera, plate and scene layout on a mix of VFX and full CG Shots and sequences.
  • Co-Developed new Shot Publishing and Validation toolset used by all productions.
  • Developed a Deep Compositing toolset for fast animation collaboration with multiple animators or split up scenes.
  • Created a dynamic scene origin plugin for Maya and a full pipeline integration to handle large scale scenes.
  • Wrote a procedural muscle simulation pipeline with Ziva to significantly reduce required Character FX resources.
  • Developed Motion capture ingestion pipeline.

Animation Support TD & Scene Layout, Rhythm & Hues

June 2012 - January 2013

  • Responsible for layout and pre-lighting of VFX scenes.
  • Assisted animators with scenes, rigs and scripts.
  • Developed tools for in-house tool, Voodoo, with proprietary language, Parsley.
  • Responsible for department in Vancouver, and training new hires.
  • Developed artist color management pipeline.
  • Developed Scene lighting management tools.
  • Created prototype Python bindings and an IDE for Parsley.
  • Wrote tools to streamline ticket submission and management.

Skills

Languages

  • Swift
  • Objective-C
  • C++
  • Python
  • Rust
  • C#
  • GLSL
  • MSL
  • Lua
  • Javascript

Frameworks & APIs

Software

Projects

Crewed Movies

  • Smallfoot
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Suicide Squad
  • Alice: Through the Looking Glass
  • Smurfs: The Lost Village
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Hotel Transylvania 2
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • Blended
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
  • Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
  • R.I.P.D.
  • Seventh Son

Contributing Movies

  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
  • The Emoji Movie
  • Storks
  • Hotel Transylvania 3
  • Love, Death and Robots: Lucky 13
  • The Angry Birds Movie
  • The Interview

Notable

Alliance for OpenUSD TAC Chair

Technical Advisory Council chair and founding member of the Alliance for OpenUSD.

WWDC 2023 Presenter

Explore the USD ecosystem

SIGGRAPH 2017 Presenter

Deep Compositing tools for Animation Collaboration

On Set Production

Assistant Camera Operator and Gaffer

Educational Content

Authored Python for Maya course on several platforms with 7,000+ students.

Education

Vancouver Film School

Studied 2D and 3D Animation

Rigging Dojo

C++ for Maya

iAnimate

3D Animation