Technical Artist - 12 Month Contract (Madrid, Spain)

Keywords Studios Plc; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holiday + 3 festive closure

Company Pension Scheme

Flexible Working Hours

Private Medical Insurance - BUPA

Anti-crunch ethos

Free Parking

Company Socials

Breakout Areas and perks

Job summary

d3t, the Madrid-based studio of Keywords Studios, is hiring a Technical Artist for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role focuses on establishing robust art pipelines, creating in-house tools and shaders, and ensuring assets meet strict memory and performance targets.

You will work closely with artists in a hybrid Madrid workplace. Ideal candidates have strong Maya/3DS Max and Python skills, experience with real-time rendering, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering real-time game art and pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of rendering, shading, lighting techniques and memory limits.
• Excellent Maya and/or 3DS Max skills with Python proficiency.
• Good communication within a multidisciplinary art team.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain project art pipelines from inception through life-cycle.
• Support art/animation needs and resolve technical issues.
• Create and integrate in-house toolsets and materials/shaders.
• Ensure artwork meets memory and frame-rate guidelines via profiling.
• Collaborate with artists to improve performance while preserving fidelity.
• Adhere to naming, texture layering, and pipeline conventions.
• Stay updated with industry advances and share knowledge with the team.
• Contribute tutorials and guides to improve art pipeline efficiency.
• Advise on resourcing and production risks; mentor junior team members.
• Maintain a flexible, calm approach; deliver quality within deadlines.

Skills

Real-time rendering

Performance profiling

Shaders

PBR workflow

Python scripting

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Adaptability

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 studio for this opportunity is based in Madrid, Spain where we offer an amazingly professional and supportive working environment. We also have studios in the UK (Daresbury, Cheshire and Newcastle, Tyne & Wear). 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 on-site in the Madrid studio, working on a hybrid working basis. The hybrid working pattern will be - minimum 3 days per week in the studio: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

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.

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 in the Madrid studio (3 days per week in the studio). We value work/life balance and have a discretionary flexible hours system and operate a no‑crunch policy as a studio.

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.

Interviews will be help by video call.