Dan Yu
About Dan Yu
Dan Yu is a Technical Writer with extensive experience in software development and technical documentation. He has worked for notable companies such as Pixar Animation Studios, Niantic, and Salesforce, and possesses expertise in developing plug-ins for 3D Studio MAX and advanced skills in web services.
Current Role at Pixar Animation Studios
Dan Yu has been serving as a Technical Writer at Pixar Animation Studios since 2022. In this role, he focuses on creating and maintaining documentation that supports the development of animation software and tools. His work contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the technical processes at Pixar, ensuring that team members have access to clear and comprehensive resources.
Previous Experience in Technical Writing
Prior to his current position, Dan Yu accumulated extensive experience in technical writing across various companies. He worked at Google as a Technical Writer in Developer Relations from 2015 to 2016. He also held the position of Principal Technical Writer and Doc Tools Engineer at Salesforce from 2016 to 2021, where he played a key role in documentation for technical tools. His background includes a role as Lead Technical Writer for Salesforce.com’s Platform Team from 2011 to 2015.
Software Development Expertise
Dan Yu possesses significant expertise in software development, particularly in creating plug-ins for 3D Studio MAX. He has worked with various frameworks, including Core Animation and Direct3D. His programming skills encompass multiple languages, such as Lua and Assembly, which enhance his technical writing capabilities by allowing him to communicate effectively with developers.
Educational Background in Computer Science
Dan Yu earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Computer Science from Williams College, where he studied from 1989 to 1993. This educational foundation provided him with a solid understanding of computer science principles, which he has applied throughout his career in both technical writing and software engineering.
Career Timeline and Notable Positions
Dan Yu's career spans several notable positions in the tech industry. He began as an Engineer at American Management Systems from 1993 to 1995, followed by a role as a Technical Support Engineer at Adax. He later worked at Autodesk/Discreet as a Senior Software Engineer from 1996 to 2000. His experience also includes roles at Pandemic Studios, PDI/Dreamworks Animation, and Apple, where he was involved in developer relations.