Senior Technical Artist - Engine Integration

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Cutting-edge tools

Team events

Bonuses possible

Generous leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist to bridge art and tech on our next-generation projects. You will optimize asset pipelines, author shaders, and push real-time visuals while ensuring performance budgets.

You will collaborate with art and engineering teams, mentor juniors, and stay current with engine updates and industry best practices in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as Technical Artist in game development.
• Strong 3D art fundamentals: modeling, texturing, rigging, animation.
• Expertise with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Proficiency in Python, MEL or C# scripting.
• Experience with Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Suite, Photoshop.
• Portfolio showing technical art problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize art pipelines for 3D asset creation and engine integration.
• Collaborate with artists to ensure assets meet technical requirements and performance budgets.
• Troubleshoot and resolve engine-related art issues with engineers.
• Create and optimize shaders, materials, and lighting for real-time rendering.
• Develop tools and scripts to improve artist efficiency and workflow automation.
• Profile and optimize art assets and engine performance for target platforms.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior technical artists.
• Stay up-to-date with engine updates, new technologies, and industry best practices.
• Implement and manage art asset version control systems.
• Participate in art reviews, offering technical insights and solutions.

Skills

Technical Art

3D Asset Pipeline

Shader Programming

Scripting (Python/C#)

Performance Profiling

Team Collaboration

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree (CS / Digital Art / Game Design)

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

3ds Max

Substance Suite

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist to join their innovative team in Welkom, Free State. This role is central to bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical implementation, ensuring seamless integration of assets into the game engine and optimizing performance. You will work closely with both art and engineering teams to solve complex problems, develop efficient pipelines, and push the boundaries of visual fidelity. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of 3D art pipelines, engine capabilities, and scripting. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to exciting projects and grow your career in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize art pipelines for 3D asset creation and engine integration.
• Collaborate with artists to ensure assets meet technical requirements and performance budgets.
• Work with engineers to troubleshoot and resolve engine-related art issues.
• Create and optimize shaders, materials, and lighting setups for real-time rendering.
• Develop tools and scripts to improve artist efficiency and workflow automation.
• Profile and optimize art assets and engine performance for target platforms.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior technical artists and other art team members.
• Stay up-to-date with engine updates, new technologies, and industry best practices.
• Implement and manage art asset version control systems.
• Participate in art reviews, offering technical insights and solutions.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game development industry.
• Strong understanding of 3D art fundamentals, including modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation.
• Proficiency in game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Expertise in creating and optimizing shaders, materials, and lighting.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL, C#).
• Experience with DCC tools like Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Suite, and Photoshop.
• Understanding of performance profiling and optimization techniques.
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve complex technical challenges.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Portfolio demonstrating relevant technical art skills and problem-solving examples.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Digital Art, Game Design, or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.
• Collaborative and supportive team environment.
• Potential for project completion bonuses.
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• Company-sponsored social events and team-building activities.