Lead Technical Artist

Placements24; Southampton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Randburg, South Africa, seeks a Lead Technical Artist to bridge art and technology on ambitious AAA-style titles. You will lead a team of technical artists, shaping pipelines, tools, and workflows to empower the art department.

Collaborating with art, design and engineering, you will tackle complex technical challenges, optimize performance, and drive shader and tool development while mentoring growth and maintaining high technical standards.

Qualifications

• 6+ years' experience as a Technical Artist, with leadership exposure.
• Proficiency in Python and MEL scripting.
• Experience with DCC tools: Maya, 3ds Max, Blender.
• Strong knowledge of game engines (Unreal, Unity) and shader development.
• Excellent problem-solving and leadership communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of technical artists.
• Develop and optimize art pipelines, tools, and shaders.
• Collaborate with art, design and engineering to improve workflows.
• Implement asset creation processes meeting technical specs.
• Profile and optimize assets and engine performance.
• Research and integrate new technologies to enhance visuals and efficiency.

Skills

Python

MEL

Shader development

Art pipelines

Leadership

Unreal Engine

Unity

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge game development studio in Randburg , is seeking an innovative Lead Technical Artist to bridge the gap between art and technology. You will lead a team of technical artists, developing and optimizing art pipelines, tools, and workflows to empower the art department. This role involves solving complex technical challenges, ensuring efficient asset creation, and implementing cutting-edge solutions to enhance visual quality and performance. We are looking for a highly collaborative individual with a deep understanding of art asset creation and engine integration, ready to drive technical excellence within our studio.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of technical artists, fostering skill development and best practices.


• Develop, maintain, and optimize art pipelines, tools, and shaders for game development.


• Collaborate closely with art, design, and engineering teams to solve technical challenges and improve workflows.


• Implement and support asset creation processes, ensuring efficiency and adherence to technical specifications.


• Profile and optimize art assets and engine performance to meet project requirements.


• Research and integrate new technologies to enhance visual quality and development efficiency.

Requirements

• Minimum 6 years of experience as a Technical Artist, with significant experience in a lead or senior role.


• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) and experience with DCC tools (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender).


• Strong understanding of game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their technical constraints.


• Experience with shader development, performance optimization, and pipeline tools.


• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, with a passion for technology in Randburg .

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.


• Opportunity to work on AAA titles and shape the future of game development technology.


• Professional development budget and access to industry conferences.


• Collaborative and innovative studio culture in Randburg .


• Relocation assistance for qualified candidates may be provided.