Lead UI Technical Artist (Unreal Engine 5)

EPAM Systems Inc; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

EPAM Systems seeks a Lead UI Technical Artist to define and drive the tech art systems across a multifaceted game UI, spanning platforms. You will create reusable templates, elevate UX/UI with real-time effects, and mentor UI artists.

You will collaborate with UX/UI and visual design, own tooling pipelines, and ensure performance in UE5, with a focus on shaders, materials, and VFX across screens and states.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience as a Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist with game UI/front-end exposure.
• Proven leadership experience mentoring UI artists and visual designers.
• Strong project ownership skills for templates, tooling, and UI tech art asset management.
• Expert Unreal Engine 5 skills with deep knowledge of Material Editor and Niagara.
• Advanced Sequencer experience for animated transitions and cinematic camera moves.

Responsibilities

• Define the UI tech art vision, templates, and principles that all UI artists build upon.
• Craft polished and performant UI tech art solutions using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera tools in UE4/5.
• Build consistent visual patterns for motion, FX, transitions, scale, and proportion across the UI surface.
• Plan cross-platform adaptation strategies that balance fidelity and performance.
• Own UI tech art tooling, pipelines, and asset management to improve team throughput.
• Create high-quality hover states, micro-interactions, and motion details that enhance UI feel.
• Develop reusable material and VFX systems that scale across many UI screens and states.
• Integrate 3D elements with UI using cameras, lighting, framing, and post-processing for spatial and diegetic UI.
• Optimize shaders, materials, and VFX through profiling and performance best practices.
• Collaborate closely with UX/UI and visual design to translate intent into real-time implementation.
• Prototype and iterate in ambiguous spaces to discover the right look and responsiveness.
• Mentor and review work for UI artists and visual designers to raise quality and consistency.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring UI artists

Cross-functional collaboration

Project ownership

Communication

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Material Editor

Niagara

UMG

Blueprints

Shaders

VFX

Job description

We are looking for a Lead UI Technical Artist to define the tech art systems, materials, and motion language that unify a forward-looking game UI across platforms. You will build reusable templates, elevate UX/UI with polished real-time effects, and mentor UI artists.

Responsibilities

• Define the UI tech art vision, templates, and principles that all UI artists build upon
• Craft polished and performant UI tech art solutions using materials, UMG, animation, FX, lighting, Blueprints, and camera tools in UE4/5
• Build consistent visual patterns for motion, FX, transitions, scale, and proportion across the UI surface
• Plan cross-platform adaptation strategies that balance fidelity and performance
• Own UI tech art tooling, pipelines, and asset management to improve team throughput
• Create high-quality hover states, micro-interactions, and motion details that enhance UI feel
• Develop reusable material and VFX systems that scale across many UI screens and states
• Integrate 3D elements with UI using cameras, lighting, framing, and post-processing for spatial and diegetic UI
• Optimize shaders, materials, and VFX through profiling and performance best practices
• Collaborate closely with UX/UI and visual design to translate intent into real-time implementation
• Prototype and iterate in ambiguous spaces to discover the right look and responsiveness
• Mentor and review work for UI artists and visual designers to raise quality and consistency

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience as a Technical Artist, UI Tech Artist, or VFX Artist with game UI/front-end exposure
• Proven leadership experience mentoring UI artists and visual designers
• Strong project ownership skills for templates, tooling, and UI tech art asset management
• Expert Unreal Engine 5 skills with deep knowledge of Material Editor and Niagara
• Advanced Sequencer experience for animated transitions and cinematic camera moves
• Strong shader and material fundamentals including material functions/systems and texture optimization
• Advanced UV math knowledge for complex material and surface solutions
• Solid real-time lighting and post-process knowledge for mood and atmosphere
• Strong motion design skills with timing, easing, and micro-interaction principles
• Excellent collaboration skills to elevate established UX/UI designs with technical polish
• High comfort with ambiguity in exploratory iteration to find the right feel per screen or moment
• Upper-Intermediate English proficiency (B2)
• Nice to have Experience building reusable or modular VFX and material systems for large UI surfaces
• Background in cinematics, trailer work, or environmental mood and lighting design
• Familiarity with UMG architecture and how UI logic interacts with material and VFX systems
• Experience with AI assistants to accelerate iteration, documentation, or tooling
• Deep gaming domain knowledge across UI patterns and player experience expectations