Technical Artist

Keywords Studios Plc; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holiday + festive closure

Company pension scheme

Flexible working hours

Private medical insurance

Job summary

d3t, part of Keywords Studios Group, seeks a Technical Artist to shape and maintain real-time art pipelines for multiple projects. You will collaborate with artists to balance visual fidelity with performance, while contributing to in-house tool development and shader work.

Hybrid role based in UK studios, focusing on delivering robust art tooling, materials and capabilities for AAA game development with a no-crunch ethos.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Maya/3DS Max and Python.
• Understanding real-time rendering and lighting concepts.
• Performance-focused with emphasis on quality and efficiency.
• Strong collaboration and communication within a multidisciplinary art team.
• Desirable knowledge of shader creation and tooling.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain project art pipelines from inception through lifecycle.
• Support art/animation teams and help resolve technical issues.
• Create and integrate in-house toolsets; contribute to materials/shaders.
• Ensure artwork adheres to memory and frame-rate constraints via profiling.
• Collaborate with artists to optimize asset performance while preserving visuals.
• Enforce naming conventions and texture layering structures across assets.
• Stay updated with industry advances; share knowledge with the art team.
• Contribute tutorials, docs, and guides to improve pipeline efficiency.
• Advise Senior Technical Artist on resourcing and production risks.
• Mentor other Technical Art team members.

Skills

Python

Rendering concepts

Performance profiling

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or diploma in a relevant field

Tools

Maya

3DS Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co-development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. Our studio, part of the global Keywords Studios Group, works on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement.

Our studio projects have included EA SPORTS FC™ 26, Hogwarts Legacy, Exoborne, Mafia: The Old Country, Alan Wake Remastered, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. We also work in partnership with our global clients including: Playground Games, EA and Archetype Entertainment.

The d3t studios are based near Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear) and Madrid where we offer an amazingly professional and supportive working environment. We are passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our anti-crunch mentality, mentoring ethos and have been awarded ‘Best Places to Work’ multiple times by gamesindustry.biz. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider’ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 & 2024.

This Technical Artist opportunity will be a 12 month fixed term contract (with possible extension) based in either of our UK studio sites (Daresbury or Newcastle), on a hybrid working basis. Working pattern - 3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice.

d3t's art team blends technical excellence with a passion for the craft of game development. Our expertise spans the full development cycle—from co-development on features and content to benchmark creation and work on remakes / remasters. We deliver world-class content across Environment, Character, VFX, and Animation. We don't just create art; we build the tools and pipelines that power it. We are expanding our studio and looking for a Technical Artist to help us redefine what's possible.

The Role - Technical Artist:

What are we looking for?

• Responsible for helping to establish and maintain project art pipelines from inception and throughout the project life-cycle
• Support the art and animation team requirements and assist with resolving technical issues
• Assist with creating and integrating in-house toolsets and be involved in creating materials/shaders
• Ensure all artwork hits memory and frame rate guidelines/restrictions by means of performance profiling
• Collaborate with the artists and feedback on how they can improve the performance of the in-game assets while maintaining visual fidelity
• Ensure all artwork adheres to guidelines regarding naming conventions, texture layering structures etc
• Keep up to date with industry advancements and technologies and share knowledge with the art team
• Add to our library of tutorials, documents and technical guides to improve efficiency in the art pipeline and be proactive in finding solutions to technical issues
• Advise the Senior Technical Artist of resourcing concerns and production risks
• Encourage and mentor other members of the Technical Art Team

Requirements

Essential skills:

• Enjoy the technical challenge and constraints of real-time game art and have some understanding of modern rendering, shading and lighting techniques
• Must be performance and quality focused
• Must have an excellent working knowledge and proficiency in Maya and/or 3DS Max and an excellent in-depth knowledge in Python
• Strong communication and organisation skills and confidence working within a multidisciplinary art team
• Good understanding of the technical limitations of current console hardware
• Practical and methodical approach to technical and creative problem-solving
• Demonstrate dependability and commitment to projects and tasks, and a hunger to learn and improve as a Technical Artist
• Flexible and calm approach with the ability to adapt to change
• Ability to deliver quality work within fixed time constraints
• Good knowledge of current game development practices and terminology and a passion for staying up to date with latest technology and embracing new game art techniques

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of other scripting languages is advantageous
• Knowledge of the Maya API and programming in C++ or C# is advantageous
• Some understanding of various other tools and software used in development, Photoshop, Substance, Houdini etc is also advantageous
• Knowledge of Unreal Engine or Unity is advantageous
• Knowledge of materials/shaders and a good understanding of a PBR workflow
• At least 1 published title

We work flexibly, but value in-person collaboration: this position is offered on a hybrid basis only at either of our UK sites (3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice). We value work/life balance and have a discretionary flexible hours system and operate a no-crunch policy as a studio.

Benefits

d3t Studio Benefits & Perks:

• 22 days holiday +3 Festive Studio Closure + Bank Holidays
• Company Pension Scheme
• Flexible Working Hours
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme - BUPA
• Anti-crunch ethos - a professional, fun and supportive working environment!
• Free Parking
• Company Socials, Monthly Lunches + Annual d3t Events
• Breakout Areas - filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences etc

First interviews will be help by video call, followed by second interviews on-site.

At d3t we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace and culture.