Senior VFX Artist

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 64,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Benefits package

Job summary

Placements24 in Queenstown, SA, seeks a Senior VFX Artist to create spectacular visual effects for our client's games. You will lead the full VFX lifecycle from concept to implementation, collaborating with designers and engineers to deliver dazzling explosions, spells and environment effects.

The role requires a strong artistic background, mastery of particle systems and shaders, experience with Unreal Engine or Unity, and a commitment to performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Game Design, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in VFX artistry for games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality visual effects.
• Proficiency in particle editing systems (e.g., Niagara, Cascade, Unity Particle System).
• Expertise in shader creation and material editing.
• Familiarity with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Excellent understanding of timing, animation principles, and color theory.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, create, and implement high-quality visual effects (VFX) for video games.
• Utilize particle systems, shaders, and other tools to generate dynamic and impactful effects.
• Collaborate with game designers and art directors to conceptualize and refine VFX ideas.
• Optimize VFX assets for performance on target platforms, ensuring smooth frame rates.
• Integrate VFX into the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), ensuring seamless execution.
• Develop custom shaders and tools to achieve unique visual styles.
• Stay current with the latest VFX techniques, software, and industry trends.
• Maintain a high standard of artistic quality and technical execution for all visual effects.
• Provide technical and artistic guidance to junior VFX artists.

Skills

VFX artistry

Portfolio

Particle systems

Shader creation

Unreal/Unity

3D modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics/Fine Arts/Game Design

Tools

Maya

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic game development studio in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, is looking for a talented and experienced Senior VFX Artist to join their creative team. This role is integral to bringing visually spectacular effects to life, enhancing the player experience through dazzling explosions, magical spells, and atmospheric environmental effects. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of VFX creation, from concept and implementation to optimization, ensuring they are both stunning and performant across various platforms. The ideal candidate possesses a strong artistic background, mastery of particle systems and shader creation, and a deep understanding of game development pipelines. You will collaborate closely with artists, designers, and engineers to deliver world-class visual effects that elevate our client's games. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute your expertise to exciting projects in the heart of the Eastern Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, create, and implement high-quality visual effects (VFX) for video games.
• Utilize particle systems, shaders, and other tools to generate dynamic and impactful effects.
• Collaborate with game designers and art directors to conceptualize and refine VFX ideas.
• Optimize VFX assets for performance on target platforms, ensuring smooth frame rates.
• Integrate VFX into the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), ensuring seamless execution.
• Develop custom shaders and tools to achieve unique visual styles.
• Stay current with the latest VFX techniques, software, and industry trends.
• Maintain a high standard of artistic quality and technical execution for all visual effects.
• Provide technical and artistic guidance to junior VFX artists.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in VFX artistry for games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality visual effects.
• Proficiency in particle editing systems (e.g., Niagara, Cascade, Unity Particle System).
• Expertise in shader creation and material editing.
• Experience with 3D modeling and animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender) is a plus.
• Familiarity with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Excellent understanding of timing, animation principles, and color theory.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package.
• Employees enjoy a creative and collaborative work environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to work on exciting game projects.
• Being situated in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, offers a unique lifestyle balance.
• Join a passionate team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of visual effects in gaming.
• This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled VFX artist to make a significant contribution and grow their career within the gaming industry.