Senior VFX Artist

Cloud Imperium Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cloud Imperium Games is seeking a Senior VFX Artist in a role that blends artistry and technical excellence. You will craft cutting‑edge real-time VFX for a vast sandbox universe, from spacecraft battles to planetary storms, using our real-time editor and industry tools.

You will collaborate across Art, Design and Audio to push the Star Citizen vision forward. You will mentor junior team members, optimize effects for performance, and help evolve pipelines with VFX programmers.

Qualifications

• Create sci-fi VFX using real-time editor.
• Generate textures and meshes with 3DS Max, Houdini, Embergen and After Effects.
• Optimize effects for in-game performance while preserving visual quality.
• Collaborate with VFX programmers to improve tech and pipelines.
• Work with Art, Design and Audio to bring the Star Citizen universe to life.

Responsibilities

• Create sci-fi VFX using real time editor.
• Produce texture and mesh assets with 3DS Max, Houdini, Embergen and After Effects.
• Optimize effects for performance without sacrificing quality.
• Collaborate with VFX programmers to enhance pipelines.
• Coordinate with Art, Design and Audio to realise the game universe.

Skills

Real-time VFX fundamentals

Particle systems

Self-motivated / initiative

Mentoring / guidance

Tools

3DS Max

Houdini

Embergen

After Effects

Job description

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA games. CIG prides itself in thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity and developing ground-breaking technology. CIG believes in raising the bar for the gaming industry and the community as a whole.

About the Role:

As a Senior VFX Artist you will be part of a team of artists and programmers dedicated to creating cutting edge visual effects for a boundless sandbox universe. You will create a vast variety of effects supporting epic spaceship battles inside giant gas clouds, characters struggling to survive raging storms on hostile planets, holographic displays inside futuristic shopping malls and tiny dust motes in a desolate outpost. And everything in between!

Check out what our VFX team get up to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OzfPaUWYpY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H-0x4xk2Xk

What does a Senior VFX Artist at Cloud Imperium Games do?

• Create sci-fi VFX using CIG's real time VFX Editor.
• Use software packages such as 3DS Max, Houdini, Embergen and After Effects to generate texture and mesh assets for use with your real time effects.
• Optimize your effects to run efficiently in-game whilst maintaining high visual quality.
• Work closely with our team of dedicated VFX programmers to improve our VFX technology and pipelines where possible.
• Collaborate with other teams including Art, Design and Audio to help bring the Star Citizen universe to life.

What do we expect from our Senior VFX Artists?

• Solid understanding of the artistic and technical fundamentals of real-time visual effects.
• Experience of using real time particle systems in a game engine.
• Keen eye for detail and ability to break down existing effects in games and films.
• Be highly self-motivated and show initiative.
• Be able to rise to challenges and problem solve when required.
• Passion to raise the bar in the field of real-time VFX.
• Provide guidance and support to more junior team members.

Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it's our differences that make it special.