Lead Technical Artist

Frontier; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Share option schemes

Private family healthcare

Flexitime working hours

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Frontier, located in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Lead Technical Artist to oversee the Technical Art Team. This role involves leading game projects, fostering a high-performing team, and handling technical implementations of visual assets.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, communication skills, and experience in game production cycles. Frontier offers a competitive salary, bonuses, and a focus on wellbeing and work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Experience working collaboratively as part of a cross-disciplinary team.
• Ability to lead and manage a team of Technical Artists.

Responsibilities

• Lead a game project’s Technical Art Team.
• Liaise between project team and core teams.
• Define and maintain processes and guidelines.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Strong Technical Art skills

Leadership experience

Experience with modern game engines

Python development

Tools

Maya

DCC tools

Job description

Frontier is an independent video game developer and publisher, crafting immersive gaming experiences with fun gameplay and unparalleled artistic quality. Renowned for its iconic creative management simulation games, Frontier captivates players worldwide with immersive and authentic game worlds. The modern studio is located in the vibrant technology hub of Cambridge (UK). The talented team at Frontier are dedicated to nurturing our existing portfolio and delivering our exciting future roadmap.

This role is offered on a full in-studio basis or a hybrid basis (minimum 3 days per week in the studio). We can provide a comprehensive relocation support package as part of any offer, should you need to relocate.

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

We’re looking for a Lead Technical Artist who will take ownership and responsibility for Technical Art on current and upcoming games. This will require extensive game development experience to help run efficient and successful game projects, as well as experience in tooling and performance.

The Lead Technical Artist will also be responsible for fostering a high-performing team through effective mentorship, strategic hiring, performance management and employee engagement. This includes guiding team members’ growth through making thoughtful decisions and cultivating a positive, inclusive and motivational work environment.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Responsible for leading a game project’s Technical Art Team.
• Liaising between the project team and core teams within the studio.
• Defining and maintaining processes and guidelines that are easily usable by developers across multiple teams.
• Taking responsibility for the technical implementation of artwork, visuals and assets.
• Working and collaborating as a peer with other Project Leads to develop effective workflows and solutions to problems.
• Working with Production and Game Direction to develop roadmaps and timelines for delivery.
• Making decisions and compromises based on technical constraints and looking for effective solutions for the wider team.
• Advocate direction and workflows to different teams who all have differing constraints.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Excellent communication skills, enabling team motivation and conveying views and opinions effectively.
• Proven track record of delivering solutions to complex technical challenges on game projects.
• Leadership experience, and ability to lead and manage a team of Technical Artists.
• Highly collaborative and a confident communicator.
• Ability to take a holistic view of issues.
• Strong Technical Art skills, including but not limited to Python development, Maya, asset management, and content creation best practices.
• Strong understanding of modern game engines.
• Strategic experience with planning, pipeline improvements, asset management and risk assessment.
• Experience of full game production cycles.
• Experience working collaboratively as part of a cross-disciplinary team.

BONUS IF YOU HAVE

• Experience working with proprietary game engines.
• Experience with other DCC tools.
• Experience with other programming languages.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

You will work with talented and passionate people to support, develop or publish our sophisticated and enduring games, in a creative, collaborative and inclusive environment. We love what we do, and we work hard to provide outstanding experiences for our players.

Wellbeing is a big focus at Frontier, and we are continually evolving how we can support our people. We encourage a healthy work/life balance and provide a range of wellbeing activities, initiatives and sessions to support both mental and physical health.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a success-based annual bonus, share option schemes, life assurance, private family healthcare, flexitime working hours, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, in-house subsidised catering, support with relocation, a Cycle to Work scheme, free bike servicing, and social activities and events.

We strive to create an environment where everyone can fully demonstrate their capability and potential. If you therefore need any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please speak to your Talent Acquisition representative.