Lead VFX Artist

Jobtailor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Velan Studios seeks aSenior VFX Artist to lead real-time VFX for AAA game properties. You will define the visual direction, collaborate with art directors, engineers, designers, and QA to deliver high-quality assets within performance budgets.

You will mentor the VFX team, contribute to hiring, and drive innovation in textures, shaders, and node-based systems to meet project goals.

Qualifications

• 10+ years real-time VFX experience in games for console/PC.
• Strong portfolio of shipped titles demonstrating VFX leadership.
• Ability to generate original ideas beyond existing art.
• Expertise in textures and shader creation.
• High proficiency with Photoshop, Substance Designer, EmberGen, Maya/Blender/Houdini.
• Experience with PopcornFX v2, Unity VFX Graph, Unreal Niagara.
• Excellent collaboration with engineering and art teams.
• Strong asset management and optimization discipline.
• Passion for cutting-edge visual effects in AAA games.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the VFX look and style for projects with Art Director.
• Collaborate with project leads on scheduling and resources.
• Run reviews, give feedback, maintain cohesive vision.
• Create in-engine benchmarks and set goals for the VFX team.
• Mentor artists and participate in recruiting and interviews.
• Research techniques to keep Velan at the cutting edge.

Skills

10+ years real-time VFX experience

Shipped games portfolio

Own ideas-based creation

Texture & shader creation

Proficiency with DCCs

Node-based VFX systems

Collaboration with engineers

Asset management

Performance budgeting

Education

Degree or equivalent in Digital Media Design / Game Design

Tools

Photoshop

Substance Designer

EmberGen

Maya

Blender

Houdini

PopcornFX v2

Unity VFX Graph

Unreal Engine Niagara

EmberGen Elemental Suite

Job description

• Raise the bar and help the studio remain an industry leader in visual effects
• Collaborate with the Art Director and team leaders to define and build the VFX look and style for projects
• Work with Project Leads and Producers on task scheduling, time estimates, and resource planning
• Run team reviews, provide constructive feedback, and maintain a cohesive, polished vision
• Create in-engine visual benchmarks and gather references that reinforce project vision and set goals for the VFX team
• Create, promote, and uphold best practices for VFX systems and asset creation
• Mentor and guide the VFX team and contribute to peer reviews
• Participate in recruitment activities, including portfolio reviews and interviews
• Create a wide range of VFX for original and existing IP game properties
• Research visual-effects techniques and workflows to keep Velan at the cutting edge
• Help solve complex technical content-implementation problems and brainstorm solutions
• Collaborate with art disciplines, engineers, designers, and QA to deliver high-quality assets supporting gameplay goals
• Document systems and processes for project and studio content creators
• Apply modern artistic toolsets and AAA game-engine experience
• Work within performance budgets and optimize real-time VFX
• Represent the VFX discipline in interdisciplinary discussions about scope, planning, tools, features, and team updates
• Support hiring, performance assessment, mentoring, and career development of additional artists as projects mature

Requirements

• 10+ years of game industry real-time VFX experience on console and/or PC platforms
• Strong portfolio of shipped games
• Degree or equivalent experience in Digital Media Design, Game Design, or related field is desired
• Ability to create from your own ideas, not just from pre-existing concept art
• Demonstrated strength in custom texture and shader creation
• High proficiency with DCCs related to VFX creation, such as Photoshop, Substance Designer, EmberGen, Maya, Blender, and Houdini
• Excellent technical understanding for deep collaboration with engineering teams and working within hardware platform limits
• Strong organizational skills with adherence to optimization and asset management
• Passion for making and playing great games, with awareness of current titles and industry trends
• Self-direction, passion, and creativity
• Receptiveness to feedback and ability to act successfully on direct critique
• Technical expertise with a node-based VFX system such as PopcornFX v2, Unity’s VFX Graph, or Unreal Engine’s Niagara
• Experience with EmberGen Elemental Suite
• Experience or skill in an additional discipline such as TechArt, Concepting, Animation, User Interface, Lighting, or Design

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive experience in real-time VFX creation for games, with a strong portfolio showcasing shipped titles. Proficient in modern artistic toolsets and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to optimize VFX assets and workflows.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• 10+ Years Real-Time VFX Experience
• Custom Texture and Shader Creation
• High Proficiency with DCCs
• Technical Expertise with Node-Based VFX Systems
• Strong Organizational Skills

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Real-Time VFX Creation
• Custom Texture Creation
• Shader Creation
• Asset Management
• Optimization Techniques
• Visual Effects Techniques
• Game Design
• Digital Media Design
• VFX Benchmarking
• Performance Budgeting

Soft Skills

• Self-Direction
• Creativity
• Receptiveness to Feedback
• Collaboration
• Mentoring

Industry Keywords

• Visual Effects
• Game Industry
• AAA Game Engine
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Performance Assessment
• Portfolio Reviews
• Game Properties
• Technical Art
• Concepting
• User Interface

Tools & Technologies

• Photoshop
• Substance Designer
• EmberGen
• Maya
• Blender
• Houdini
• PopcornFX v2
• Unity VFX Graph
• Unreal Engine Niagara
• EmberGen Elemental Suite