Tech & VFX Artist - Talent Pool (APAC)

Side; Auckland; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Side in Auckland, New Zealand, is looking for a Technical Artist to bridge the art and engineering teams in the development of AAA games across multiple platforms. The role involves optimizing pipelines, resolving complex technical challenges, and collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams.

Candidates should have over three years of experience in the video game industry and a proven track record with shipped titles. The position offers opportunities for future project-based roles.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as a Technical Artist in the video game industry.
• Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison between art and engineering teams, facilitating communication and solving technical challenges.
• Develop, optimize, and maintain pipelines and tools for art asset creation and integration.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to ensure assets meet performance and technical requirements.
• Debug and resolve technical issues related to shaders and asset optimization.

Skills

Technical Problem-Solving

3D Modeling

Shaders Development

Scripting (Python, MEL, MaxScript)

Collaboration and Teamwork

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Blender

Job description

About Side

Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 15+ studios in over a dozen countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.

About the role

As a Technical Artist, you will serve as a bridge between the art and engineering teams, ensuring that our assets and tools meet both creative and technical requirements for AAA-quality games across PC, console, mobile, and VR/AR platforms. Your expertise will play a vital role in optimizing pipelines, solving complex technical challenges, and delivering world‑class visuals.

Please note, this listing is not for an immediate open position but for our Talent Pool for Co‑Development Roles. By applying, you express interest in being considered for future project‑based opportunities that align with your skills and experience.

These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. As projects are initiated or client proposals are developed, we will review candidates from this pool and contact those who most closely align with the specific requirements of the co‑development opportunity.

How We Keep You Engaged

We maintain strong relationships with our talent pool by providing regular updates, industry insights, and information on upcoming opportunities. We will check in to confirm your availability and interest.

Our hiring teams carefully vet and select top candidates who best meet project needs, ensuring that you are matched with the right opportunity when it becomes available.

Next Steps

If you are passionate about contributing to cutting‑edge projects and want to be considered for future co‑development opportunities, we encourage you to apply to this listing. While there may not be an immediate opening, your application ensures that you will be part of our ongoing talent review for upcoming roles.

Only resumes submitted in English will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison between art and engineering teams, facilitating communication and solving technical challenges.
• Develop, optimize, and maintain pipelines and tools for art asset creation and integration.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to ensure that assets meet performance, memory, and technical requirements across platforms.
• Debug and resolve technical issues related to shaders, rendering, and asset optimization.
• Implement and refine real‑time visual effects, lighting setups, and material systems to achieve high‑quality visuals.
• Provide technical support and training to artists, helping them leverage tools and workflows efficiently.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and technologies, incorporating innovative solutions into workflows.
• Document tools, pipelines, and best practices to ensure seamless onboarding and knowledge sharing within the team.

Requirements

Experience

• 3+ years of experience as a Technical Artist in the video game industry.
• Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL, or MaxScript) and tools development.
• Strong understanding of shaders, rendering pipelines, and material creation in game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Experience with 3D modeling and texturing tools such as Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, or ZBrush.
• Knowledge of optimization techniques for performance across platforms.

Problem‑Solving Skills

• Strong analytical and debugging skills, with the ability to identify and resolve technical challenges efficiently.

Collaboration Skills

• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with experience working closely with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to balance technical and creative goals, ensuring high‑quality results.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with procedural tools like Houdini.
• Experience with visual scripting systems such as Unreal Engine’s Blueprint or Unity’s Shader Graph.
• Knowledge of rigging, skinning, and animation workflows.
• Experience in VR/AR development or real‑time ray tracing technologies.

Note: Specific requirements may vary depending on project needs.