Technical Artist (VFX / Shaders)

Lightfold; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid work model

Ground-floor opportunity

Job summary

Lightfold Games in Atlanta, GA is hiring a Technical Artist (VFX/Shaders) to design, implement, and optimize real-time visual effects for our first co-op title. You will work closely with artists, engineers, and designers to translate art concepts into performant shaders and effects across Unreal Engine 5.

The role is full-time and hybrid with partial-work-from-home flexibility. You will build a stylized post-processing pipeline and contribute to the game’s consistent visuals in collaboration

Qualifications

• Strong shader development experience using HLSL and Unreal material graphs.
• Portfolio demonstrating stylized, non-photorealistic rendering work.
• Ability to collaborate across art, animation, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize real-time VFX and shaders for game projects.
• Collaborate with artists, engineers, and designers to translate concepts into technical solutions.
• Develop and maintain shader graphs and post-processing pipelines.
• Prototype new visual techniques and troubleshoot rendering issues.

Skills

Shader development

HLSL / Unreal material graphs

Stylized / non-photoreal rendering

Cross-discipline collaboration

Real-time rendering techniques

Python / C# scripting

Unreal Engine 5

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

C#

Job description

Lightfold Games · Atlanta, GA

Lightfold is a creator-first entertainment studio bringing fans and creators together to build original worlds across animation, comics, games, and more. We believe great stories come from giving talented people the freedom, ownership, and support to do their best work, then inviting audiences to come along for the ride.

Now, we're building Lightfold Games.

Come in on the ground floor, we're hiring to bring our 3D game development and asset production in-house and create a team that can help define not only this game, but what Lightfold Games becomes.

These are hybrid positions based in Atlanta, GA (Old Fourth Ward), with health benefits. We're looking for collaborative, ambitious people who want the rare opportunity to get in early, help establish how a new studio works, and build something from the beginning.

Our first game: building a co-op horde shooter with a stylized look tied to a 2D cartoon. We're hiring the full founding team at once, 11 roles in parallel, so we can move all 3D asset production in-house.

Role Description

The Technical Artist (VFX / Shaders) is a full-time hybrid role based in Atlanta, GA, with flexibility for partial work from home. In this role, you will design, implement, and optimize real-time visual effects and shaders for animation and game projects, ensuring they are both visually compelling and performant. You will collaborate closely with artists, engineers, and designers to translate artistic concepts into technical solutions, integrate effects into game engines, and maintain consistency with project art direction. Day-to-day tasks include building and refining shader graphs, prototyping new visual techniques, troubleshooting rendering issues, and contributing to pipeline tools that support 3D graphics and VR experiences. You will also document workflows and best practices, helping the wider team use visual effects tools efficiently.

Our game pairs a stylized look with a companion 2D cartoon, and we need a Technical Artist to keep that look consistent and performant across the game. This role covers cel-shading, VFX, and custom shader work.

Details

• Build and maintain our stylized post-processing pipeline
• Create "cleaning" and combat VFX that fit the game's tone
• Develop custom shaders in Unreal Engine 5
• Keep our visuals consistent with our external animation studio's 2D style

Must Have Qualifications

• Strong shader development experience (HLSL / Unreal material graphs)
• A portfolio showing stylized, non-photorealistic rendering work
• Ability to work across art, animation, and external partners

More Qualifications

• Strong 3D graphics skills, including shader creation, materials, and real-time rendering techniques.
• Experience with game development workflows and engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal) for interactive content.
• Proficiency in scripting for tools, effects, or pipeline automation (such as Python, C#, or similar).
• Understanding of lighting principles for real-time environments and cinematic scenes.
• Exposure to Virtual Reality (VR) development and performance considerations is highly beneficial.
• Relevant experience as a Technical Artist, VFX Artist, or similar role in games, animation, or interactive media.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and communicate complex technical ideas clearly.
• Portfolio or reel showcasing real-time VFX and shader work; degree in a related field (Art, Computer Science, Game Development) or equivalent practical experience.