Lead VFX Artist

Dropfake; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Non-accrual vacation

Remote studio (NA time zones)

Opportunity to work on personal projec

Inclusive, empowering culture

Job summary

Drop Fake is seeking a Lead VFX Artist to spearhead stylized visuals for our fighting-game-inspired project. You will work with the Creative Director and development team to craft impactful combat effects that perform well on mobile devices and across multiple platforms.

Lead, guide, and review a team of VFX artists while contributing hands-on Unity work. Develop scalable VFX systems and ensure visual feedback supports fast, satisfying gameplay for players worldwide.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience creating stylized 2d-inspired VFX in games.
• Understanding of mobile performance constraints.
• Expertise with industry-standard VFX tools such as Unity, Blender, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Champion, direct, and hands-on create the look of stylized VFX for high-impact combat visuals.
• Review and elevate the work of junior to senior VFX artists to maintain visual clarity.
• Contribute hands-on VFX work in Unity with strong technical proficiency.
• Help establish scalable, reusable VFX systems for long-term iteration.

Skills

VFX leadership

Stylized VFX

Mobile optimization

Unity-based workflows

Tools

Unity

Blender

Job description

At Drop Fake, we're all about making games that actually feel great to play. Right now, we are building DCKO and need a Lead VFX Artist who lives and breathes stylized visual effects, smooth performance, and combat feedback. You'll team up with our Creative Director and dev team to craft top-tier visuals that bring iconic characters to life!

About You

• 8+ years of experience creating unique, dynamic 2d inspired stylized VFX in the games industry.
• Understanding of technical limitations and considerations for mobile platforms.
• Expertise in using industry-standard VFX software such as Unity, Blender, or other relevant tools.
• Experience in optimizing assets for performance on various devices.

Responsibilities

• Champion, direct, and hands-on create the look of stylized VFX to deliver stunning, high-impact combat visuals that delight players globally.
• Guide and review the work of intermediate and senior VFX artists, elevating technical execution and maintaining a high bar for visual feedback and combat clarity.
• Contribute hands-on VFX work in Unity with a high degree of technical proficiency.
• Help establish scalable, reusable VFX systems for long-term sustainability and iteration
• Understand and apply genre-specific conventions for fighting games
• Work closely with the art and design teams to understand project requirements as a whole and contribute creative ideas to achieve the desired visual style.
• Develop efficient and optimized VFX assets to ensure smooth performance on a variety of mobile devices.
• Collaborate in an iterative process, gathering feedback and making necessary adjustments to achieve the best visual impact within the game’s technical constraints.

Stuff We Are Excited To See

• Please include a portfolio demonstrating past work experience.

About Us

We founded Drop Fake to build a progressive games company defined by autonomy, honesty, and an open, inclusive culture. Our flat structure fosters self-organization, transparent communication, and shared responsibility.

At the core of our approach is peer-driven accountability, where every team member plays an active role in shaping and owning our collective vision.

Our commitments include:

• Salaried employees will be granted stock options and as such are owners of the company.
• We offer non-accrual vacation, which means you take time off when you need it!
• We are a remote studio within North American time zones.
• We create a safe place for you to feel empowered to share your ideas.
• It’s ok to work on your own personal projects!

Drop Fake is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and fun-loving workplace.