"Are there positions in the pipeline for people to figure out technical things without getting too much into design (and that are not pure proggramming positions)"

Hah! That's like exactly what I do, even though I do come from an art/design background. But at major facilities, YES, there definently is demand for those types of people. First of all, a lot of them will be more or less pure programming positions though. Writing software tools and updates are a very much in demand position. Also, somewhat along what you were talking about, are grad students and the like who will spend a lot of time writing and developing new simulation software, for effects like water (especially), as well as hair and cloth. These are pretty darned technical positions though. There certainly is a demand for science education, product marketting, etc... Although, it is generally more of a freelance type of market, and not really something that a studio will devote a staff to. But you can find many of those types of jobs on a freelance, project by project basis. It certainly would help to have some art training if you are going to be doing the camera moves and animation, but not so much so for the modelling of parts and mechanical movement parts of the animation. (Gears turning, etc.)

But yeah, simulation software would be the first thing that comes to mind to me for math, programming and 3d animation software. Like I said, what I do is very similar to what you were describing also. I'm a pipeline person, who basically has to troubleshoot problems in all aspects of the pipeline, from modelling, to animation, to rigging, etc, etc. I have more of a character rigging background, which helps a lot, but they need people to cover all areas of the pipeline. Anyways, that's all the info I can think of at the moment, but give me a hollar if you have any other quesitons I might be able to help answer. :)