Senior VFX Artist (Real-time Engine Specialist)

Placements24; Willows (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with bonuses

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous vacation and holidays

Learning and skill development

Modern workstations and software

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior VFX Artist for a game studio client in Welkom, South Africa. You will design, implement, and optimize real-time VFX for characters, environments, and gameplay events using Unreal Engine or Unity.

You will collaborate with art directors, designers, and engineers, develop custom shaders, mentor juniors, and stay current with industry trends. This on-site role requires 5+ years in VFX for games and a strong portfolio.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a VFX artist in games with real-time engines.
• Strong portfolio of real-time VFX work for games.
• Expertise with Unreal Engine (Niagara/Cascade) or Unity (Shuriken).
• Proficiency in Photoshop, After Effects, Maya, Blender, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of particle systems, shaders, and materials.

Responsibilities

• Design, create, and implement high-quality VFX for characters, environments, and events using real-time engines.
• Use particle systems, shaders, and simulations to produce explosions, magic, environmental effects, and UI animations.
• Optimize VFX performance to maintain frame rates and visual fidelity.
• Collaborate with art directors, technical artists, and designers to integrate VFX into the game world.
• Develop custom shaders and tools to enhance the VFX pipeline and style.
• Mentor junior VFX artists and share knowledge with the team.

Skills

Real-time engines

Particle systems

Shaders

VFX artistry

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Photoshop

After Effects

Maya

Blender

Houdini

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning game development studio situated in Welkom, Free State , is seeking a talented Senior VFX Artist with a specialization in real-time engines. This role is integral to bringing dynamic visual effects to life, enhancing the immersion and spectacle of our games. You will design, create, and implement visually stunning particle effects, simulations, and post-processing effects that respond to gameplay and player actions. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of VFX pipelines in engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, a strong artistic sensibility, and a passion for creating impactful visual moments. Join our creative hub in Welkom and shape the explosive visuals of our next generation of titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, create, and implement high-quality visual effects (VFX) for characters, environments, and gameplay events using real-time engines.
• Utilize particle systems, shaders, and simulation tools to generate effects such as explosions, magic spells, environmental phenomena, and UI animations.
• Optimize VFX performance to ensure smooth frame rates and maintain visual fidelity within project constraints.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, technical artists, and game designers to integrate VFX seamlessly into the game world.
• Develop custom shaders and tools to enhance the VFX pipeline and achieve unique visual styles.
• Ensure consistency in visual quality and artistic style for all VFX assets.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any technical issues related to VFX implementation.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in real-time VFX.
• Mentor junior VFX artists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a VFX Artist in the video game industry, with a focus on real-time engines.
• A strong portfolio showcasing outstanding real-time VFX work for games.
• Expertise in using visual effects editors within engines such as Unreal Engine (Niagara, Cascade) or Unity (Shuriken).
• Proficiency in 2D/3D art software (e.g., Photoshop, After Effects, Maya, Blender) for asset creation and manipulation.
• Strong understanding of particle systems, shader creation, and material workflows.
• Experience with simulation software (e.g., Houdini) is a plus.
• Excellent eye for timing, motion, color, and composition in visual effects.
• Ability to optimize assets for performance across various platforms.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Must be able to work full-time on-site in Welkom, Free State, South Africa .

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary with potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous paid vacation and holiday leave.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and skill development.
• Access to modern workstations and the latest software.
• A dynamic and creative studio environment located in South Africa .
• Team-building activities and social events.