Principal Technical VFX Artist

Epic Games; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k with matching

Mental well-being program

Unlimited PTO

Sabbatical after 7 years

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking a Principal Technical FX Artist to join Rocket League, a live-service game with a massive fanbase. You’ll own FX systems, set the visual and technical standards, and collaborate with tech art and engineering to optimize performance without sacrificing quality.

The role requires shipping multiple titles and live-service experience; Houdini is a plus. Epic offers strong benefits and a creative, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Real-time FX portfolio required, shipped titles carry more weight than student work.
• Deep proficiency with Niagara and Unreal Engine's material system.
• Shader authoring experience (HLSL or Material Editor).
• Scripting experience – Python, Blueprint, or equivalent; separates technical from visual FX roles.

Responsibilities

• Drive VFX systems and quality, design scalable solutions for gameplay, cosmetics, and arena systems.
• Author outstanding real-time effects across diverse styles—grounded, high-energy, stylized.

Skills

Real-time FX portfolio

Niagara & Unreal material

Shader authoring (HLSL)

Scripting (Python/Blueprint)

GPU performance optimization

Timing, weight, motion sense

Shipping multiple titles

Live-service experience

Houdini (nice-to-have)

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

ART

What We Do

Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.

What You'll Do

Epic is looking for a Principal Technical FX Artist to join Rocket League, a live-service game with a huge passionate fanbase. You'll own FX systems, solve hard technical problems, and set the visual and technical standard for how effects work across the game. You're someone who gets energized by constraints, thinks in systems, and loves the moment when a gnarly technical problem becomes a beautiful effect in the build.

In this role, you will

• Drive VFX systems and quality, design reusable, scalable solutions that support rapid iteration and long-term production across gameplay, cosmetics, and arena systems

• Author outstanding real-time effects across a range of styles, from grounded and physical to high-energy and stylized

• Collaborate with Tech Art and Engineering to define performance budgets and hit them without sacrificing visual quality

• Prototype and validate new VFX workflows

• Set the quality bar, defining what "good" looks like for the team

• Mentor and elevate artists across disciplines; raise the floor and the ceiling

What we're looking for

• Real-time FX portfolio required, shipped titles carry more weight than student work

• Deep proficiency with Niagara and Unreal Engine's material system

• Shader authoring experience (HLSL or Material Editor)

• Scripting experience – Python, Blueprint, or equivalent; this is what separates a technical FX artist from a visual one

• Strong understanding of GPU performance – draw calls, particle costs, memory – and a track record of optimizing without killing the look

• A critical eye for timing, weight, and motion grounded in how things actually behave in the real world

• Experience shipping multiple titles in the game industry

• Experience on a live-service game is a strong plus

• Houdini experience is a plus for candidates who work from simulation reference

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

• Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents.
• Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match.
• We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents.
• Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks.
• We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

ABOUT US

Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.