Lead VFX Artist

Hangar 13 Games; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development studio in Brighton, UK, is seeking a highly skilled Lead VFX Artist. The role requires deep expertise in Unreal Engine 5 and involves defining artistic and technical standards for visual effects while guiding a team. Responsibilities include collaborating with design and engineering departments, innovating in real-time effects, and mentoring artists. Candidates should have at least 7 years of VFX experience and a strong portfolio showcasing their skills. This position demands strong leadership and collaborative abilities, and requires being on-site at least three days a week.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of VFX experience in the games industry, including at least 2 shipped AAA titles.
• Strong understanding of real-time rendering and particle systems.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring a VFX team.

Responsibilities

• Push visual fidelity of VFX using UE5's latest features.
• Collaborate with technical artists to expand UE5's VFX toolset.
• Manage and mentor a team of VFX artists.

Skills

Expert-level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5

Leadership experience in VFX

Strong portfolio showcasing high-fidelity real-time UE5 VFX

Cross-discipline collaboration

Tools

Houdini

Unreal Sequencer

Job description

Job Title

Lead VFX Artist

Department

Art

Location(s)

Brighton UK

Reports To

Art Director

Job Type

Permanent

Who We Are

Hangar 13 is an internal 2K development studio that crafts unforgettable AAA gaming experiences across all major platforms . With studios in Brighton (UK) Brno and Prague (CZ) we work as one team to bring to life narrative‑rich games that keep players immersed. Each of our locations provides the opportunity to work with some of the most talented developers in the industry on creatively challenging and exciting projects in a diverse and welcoming environment.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead VFX Artist with deep expertise in Unreal Engine 5. You will define the artistic and technical standards for VFX guide a team of artists and collaborate closely with design cinematic and engineering departments to deliver effects that are visually spectacular performant and seamlessly integrated into gameplay.

This is a leadership role at the intersection of creativity and technology requiring strong direction hands‑on execution and mastery of UE5s Niagara Lumen Nanite and material systems.

In addition to leading internal team members you will also oversee and collaborate with external co‑development partners ensuring their work aligns with our creative vision technical standards and production goals.

Please note we do require someone to be based from one of our Studios at least 3 days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Push the visual fidelity of VFX using UE5s latest features (Niagara Lumen Nanite) while balancing performance requirements.
• Drive innovation in real‑time effects cinematic presentation and player feedback.
• Collaborate with technical artists and engineers to expand UE5s VFX toolset and pipeline for AAA production.
• Set and maintain performance budgets for VFX across platforms (PC console next‑gen hardware).
• Manage and mentor a team of VFX artists providing clear direction feedback and professional development.
• Define workflows and pipelines for UE5 VFX production ensuring efficiency and scalability across large teams.
• Partner with design teams to ensure VFX enhance gameplay readability feedback and immersion.
• Work with cinematics animation and lighting teams to integrate VFX into cutscenes and storytelling sequences.
• Act as the primary Unreal Engine VFX expert supporting cross‑team problem solving and technical guidance.

Essential Skills Attributes and Experience

• Minimum 7 years of VFX experience in the games industry including at least 2 shipped AAA titles.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 including Niagara materials shaders Lumen and optimization workflows.
• Strong portfolio showcasing high‑fidelity real‑time UE5 VFX.
• Solid understanding of real‑time rendering particle systems physics and performance constraints.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring a VFX team.
• Excellent cross‑discipline collaboration communication and problem‑solving skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with procedural tools (Houdini EmberGen) integrated into UE5 pipelines.
• Familiarity with cinematic or pre‑rendered VFX via Unreal Sequencer.
• Experience managing outsourcing or external vendors.
• Understanding of multiplayer or networked gameplay VFX challenges.
• Passion for staying at the forefront of real‑time VFX and Unreal Engine innovation.

Hangar 13 prides itself on the diversity of its team members partners and communities. For this reason we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship from recruitment and hiring through compensation benefits discipline and termination.

As an equal opportunity employer we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and / or interview process to perform their essential job functions and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need to request reasonable accommodation.

SECURITY NOTICE - We have recently been made aware of increasing occurrences of bad actors posing as company HR personnel to gain information from potential candidates in the form of job interviews and offers. These scams can be quite sophisticated and appear legitimate.

Please know that Hangar 13 and 2K never use instant messaging apps to contact prospective employees or to conduct interviews.

If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam you may fill out a complaint form at and detailing as much as possible. We are taking these matters very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience.