Senior VFX Artist

Success Matcher Recruitment; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client in San Francisco is seeking a Senior VFX Artist to own the digital card pack opening experience for their flagship mobile game. You will shape the moment of every pull with cinematic VFX, animation, and particle systems, from anticipation to payoff.

As the first dedicated game artist, you will define pipelines, establish standards across 50+ themes, and collaborate with engineers and designers. The role offers growth into a leadership position, with relocation assistance if needed.

Qualifications

• 1–5 years of hands-on experience in real-time VFX for games (mobile preferred).
• Proficiency with real-time engines and content creation tools listed above.
• Self-starter who thrives in high-ownership environments and ships fast.
• Willingness to relocate to San Francisco, CA for in-person/hybrid work.

Responsibilities

• Own the core digital card pack opening flow with anticipation, escalation and payoff.
• Help establish VFX standards and scalable pipelines for 50+ themes and content drops.
• Drive art direction with strong ownership and minimal design-by-committee friction.
• Collaborate as a founding artist to build the team's VFX pipeline, tools and practices.
• Grow into a player‑coach leadership role with mentoring and team-building opportunities.

Skills

Real-time VFX

Mobile gaming experience

Ownership mindset

Tools

Cocos Creator

Unity

Spine

After Effects

Rive

Houdini

Blender

Photoshop

Job description

Our client is behind the #1 collectibles app on iOS, sitting right at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and culture. They process billions in volume annually, serve millions of users, and are backed by over $65M from top-tier venture firms. They are seeking a Senior VFX Artist to own and define the digital card pack opening experience for their flagship product. As the first dedicated game artist on the team, you will enjoy full creative autonomy with no creative director standing above you. This is your chance to craft the emotional, high-stakes moments that make rare pulls feel legendary for millions of users worldwide—with a clear trajectory to build and lead the VFX team as the company scales.

What You Will Be Doing

• Own the Core Experience: Design and animate the entire digital card pack opening flow—crafting the anticipation, escalation, and emotional payoff that makes every pull thrilling.
• Establish the Baseline: Help set VFX standards and scalable pipelines that can stretch across 50+ themes and seasonal content drops.
• Drive Art Direction: Take true ownership of in-game VFX without "design by committee" friction.
• Build the Foundation: Collaborate as a founding game artist to construct the team's VFX pipeline, tools, and best practices.
• Grow into Leadership: Transition into a player‑coach lead role over time, with the opportunity to hire, mentor, and build out the game art department.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: 1–5 years of hands‑on experience in real‑time VFX for games (mobile gaming experience preferred).
• Tooling/Tech Stack: Proficiency with real‑time engines and content creation tools such as Cocos Creator, Unity, Spine, After Effects, Rive, Houdini, Blender, or Photoshop.
• High Agency: A self‑starter who thrives in high‑ownership environments, ships fast, and is obsessed with craft.
• Location: Based in or willing to relocate to San Francisco, CA for an in‑person / hybrid setup.

What's in It for You?

• Highly competitive base salary ($140K–$220K) + equity in a fast‑growing, highly profitable startup.
• Direct impact on a product used by millions of users daily.
• Incredible mentorship and collaboration with an elite team of ex‑quant traders, world‑champion gamers, and top‑tier engineers.
• Relocation assistance available for the right candidate.