Lead Technical Artist

EPAM Systems Inc; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

EPAM Systems is seeking a Lead Technical Artist to unite creative instincts with technical prowess, shaping high-quality visuals across UE4/5 platforms. You will drive UI tech art frameworks, craft cohesive visual conventions, and mentor designers and UI artists to elevate the team’s work.

The role emphasizes collaboration, real-time lighting mastery, and motion design in a fast-paced, team-driven studio setting.

Qualifications

• Five-plus years hands-on background as Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist; UI/front-end gaming experience preferred.
• At least one year of leading and overseeing teams.
• Proven Unreal Engine 5 expertise, especially Material Editor and Niagara.
• Hands-on experience with Sequencer for animated transitions and cinematic sequences.
• Strong knowledge of real-time lighting and post-process approaches for mood and atmosphere.
• History of polished hover effects, micro-interactions, and motion in UI.
• Solid grounding in shader logic, texture/material optimization, and performance analysis.
• Strong timing, easing, and motion design fundamentals for UI work.
• Excellent collaboration skills; able to advance concepts through technical enhancement.
• Comfort navigating undefined, exploratory work to find the right feel for screens.
• Clear English communication (B2 level or above).

Responsibilities

• Deliver polished, well-optimized technical art outcomes using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera functionality within UE4/5.
• Set forward-looking tech art frameworks, thematic vision, and core UI principles for evolving product UI.
• Establish cohesive visual conventions covering motion, FX, UI transitions, scale, and proportional relationships.
• Assess how technical art scales across platforms, balancing visual quality and performance.
• Lead tooling systems and asset management processes tied to UI tech art across the team.
• Provide mentorship to help visual designers and UI artists develop their skills.

Skills

Leadership

UI collaboration

Problem solving

Real-time rendering

English communication

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Material Editor

Niagara

Sequencer

UMG

Job description

We're currently on the lookout for a Lead Technical Artist to become part of our team. This position combines creative instinct with strong technical know-how to craft refined, well-performing visual work within a team-driven studio environment. You'll operate right where art and engineering meet, contributing to how visual quality comes together across various platforms. This is an ideal role for someone who thrives on approaching creative problems with a technical mindset

Responsibilities

• Deliver polished, well-optimized technical art outcomes using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera functionality within UE4/5
• Set forward-looking tech art frameworks, thematic vision, and core principles guiding the product's developing UI
• Establish cohesive visual conventions covering motion, FX, UI transitions, scale, and proportional relationships throughout the experience
• Assess how technical art scales across different platforms, weighing visual quality against performance limitations
• Take charge of tooling systems and asset management processes tied to UI tech art across the team
• Provide mentorship that helps visual designers and UI artists develop and grow their skills

Requirements

• Five-plus years of hands-on, relevant background as a Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist, preferably including UI/front-end experience in gaming
• At least one year spent leading and overseeing teams
• Proven expertise working within Unreal Engine 5, with particular strength in the Material Editor and Niagara for real-time effects work
• Hands-on background using Sequencer or similar tools to build animated transitions and cinematic camera sequences
• Solid knowledge of real-time lighting and post-process approaches and their role in establishing mood and atmosphere
• History of crafting polished hover effects, micro-interactions, and motion nuances that strengthen the overall UI experience
• Strong grounding in fundamental technical art disciplines, spanning shader logic, texture/material optimization, and performance analysis
• Sharp instinct for timing, easing, and motion design fundamentals as they relate to UI work
• Solid collaborative skills, capable of taking existing visual and UX concepts further through technical enhancement
• Ease with navigating undefined, exploratory work to identify the right feel for a particular screen or interaction
• Strong communication ability with working English fluency at B2 level or above, supporting clear comprehension of business needs and their conversion into technical solutions

Nice to have

• Comfort using AI assistant tools to strengthen and streamline creative processes
• Experience gained within the gaming sector on similar project types
• Background creating reusable or modular VFX and material systems applicable across large-scale UI surfaces
• Experience in cinematics, trailer creation, or environmental mood and lighting work
• Working knowledge of UMG and how UI logic ties into material and VFX systems