Lead Technical Artist

EPAM Systems, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off & sick leave

Upskilling & certification courses

LinkedIn Learning access

Global career opportunities

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

EPAM Systems, Inc. is seeking a Lead Technical Artist to bridge art and engineering, crafting refined, high-performing visuals across platforms. You will guide UI/UX-driven visual systems, tooling, and real-time effects within a collaborative studio environment.

The role requires 5+ years as a Technical Artist or similar, leadership experience, and strong UE5 proficiency, including Material Editor and Niagara. You will mentor designers and contribute to global projects.

Qualifications

• Five-plus years of hands-on experience as Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist.
• Minimum one year leading teams.
• Proven Unreal Engine 5 expertise, especially Material Editor and Niagara.
• Strong knowledge of real-time lighting and post-process techniques.
• Experience creating polished hover effects and micro-interactions for UI.

Responsibilities

• Deliver polished, optimized technical art using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera in UE4/5.
• Set forward-looking tech art frameworks, thematic vision, and UI core principles.
• Establish cohesive visual conventions for motion, FX, and UI transitions.
• Assess cross-platform scalability, balancing visuals and performance.
• Lead UI tech art tooling and asset management across the team.
• Mentor visual designers and UI artists to grow technical skills.

Skills

Unreal Engine 5

Material Editor

Niagara

Sequencer

UI/UX collaboration

Shader optimization

Real-time lighting

Motion design

Tools

UMG

Sequencer

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 mindsetResponsibilitiesDeliver polished, well-optimized technical art outcomes using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera functionality within UE4/5Set forward-looking tech art frameworks, thematic vision, and core principles guiding the product's developing UIEstablish cohesive visual conventions covering motion, FX, UI transitions, scale, and proportional relationships throughout the experienceAssess how technical art scales across different platforms, weighing visual quality against performance limitationsTake charge of tooling systems and asset management processes tied to UI tech art across the teamProvide mentorship that helps visual designers and UI artists develop and grow their skillsRequirementsFive-plus years of hands-on, relevant background as a Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist, preferably including UI/front-end experience in gamingAt least one year spent leading and overseeing teamsProven expertise working within Unreal Engine 5, with particular strength in the Material Editor and Niagara for real-time effects workHands-on background using Sequencer or similar tools to build animated transitions and cinematic camera sequencesSolid knowledge of real-time lighting and post-process approaches and their role in establishing mood and atmosphereHistory of crafting polished hover effects, micro-interactions, and motion nuances that strengthen the overall UI experienceStrong grounding in fundamental technical art disciplines, spanning shader logic, texture/material optimization, and performance analysisSharp instinct for timing, easing, and motion design fundamentals as they relate to UI workSolid collaborative skills, capable of taking existing visual and UX concepts further through technical enhancementEase with navigating undefined, exploratory work to identify the right feel for a particular screen or interactionStrong communication ability with working English fluency at B2 level or above, supporting clear comprehension of business needs and their conversion into technical solutionsNice to haveComfort using AI assistant tools to strengthen and streamline creative processesExperience gained within the gaming sector on similar project typesBackground creating reusable or modular VFX and material systems applicable across large-scale UI surfacesExperience in cinematics, trailer creation, or environmental mood and lighting workWorking knowledge of UMG and how UI logic ties into material and VFX systemsWe offerInternational projects with top brandsWork with global teams of highly skilled, diverse peersHealthcare benefitsEmployee financial programsPaid time off and sick leaveUpskilling, reskilling and certification coursesUnlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning library and 22,000+ coursesGlobal career opportunitiesVolunteer and community involvement opportunitiesEPAM Employee GroupsAward-winning culture recognized by Glassdoor, Newsweek and LinkedIn