Unreal Generalist

Swayboxstudios; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Swaybox Studios is seeking a technically adept and creatively driven Unreal Artist (Generalist) to join our VFX team in New Orleans. You will build high-quality CG environments, set extensions, and props that integrate with live action, working across layout, texturing, lighting, and rendering to ensure a cohesive final product.

You will collaborate closely with Supervisors and TDs, contribute to early R&D, and help refine workflows that improve production efficiency while delivering cinematic

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in high-end live action VFX, animation, or episodic production.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine across environment creation, layout, material creation, lookdev, lighting, and rendering.
• Expertise in Maya, Substance Painter/Designer, Mari, Photoshop (or equivalent).
• Deep knowledge of texture mapping techniques.
• Strong understanding of MRQ/MRG workflows and real-time performance constraints.
• Familiarity with Perforce or Git.
• Strong eye for texture, color, composition, scale, lighting and spatial relationships.
• Ability to collaborate with Supervisors, TDs, and production teams.

Responsibilities

• Create and refine CG environments, set extensions, replacements, vehicles, crowds, and props in Unreal Engine.
• Handle layout, texturing, materials, look development, lighting, and rendering for seamless handoff to compositing.
• Develop custom textures/materials using painting, photo sourcing, projection mapping, and photogrammetry.
• Craft cinematic lighting in Unreal that matches live action plates and supports composition.
• Implement static and dynamic lighting solutions within Unreal Engine.
• Assist in early R&D and visual development for CG environments and projections.
• Collaborate with VFX Supervisor, Unreal Supervisor, artists, and TDs to improve tools and workflows.
• Maintain organized files, adhere to naming conventions, version control, and pipelines.

Skills

Unreal Engine

Environment creation

Texturing

Look development

Lighting & rendering

Version control

Collaboration

Tools

Maya

Substance Painter

Substance Designer

Mari

Photoshop

Job description

Why join Swaybox Studios?

Swaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/ Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves' 6th and Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you'll help bring bold creative visions to life through hands-on artistry and performance. This is your chance to be a part of a production that's equal parts innovative and unforgettable.

Why join Swaybox Studios?

Swaybox Studios is rewriting the rulebook of visual storytelling. As we collaborate with DC Studios/ Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves' 6th and Idaho on a revolutionary new project, you'll help bring bold creative visions to life through hands-on artistry and performance. This is your chance to be a part of a production that's equal parts innovative and unforgettable.

Job Summary:

Swaybox Studios is seeking a technically adept and creatively driven Unreal Artist (Generalist) to join our VFX team in creating high-quality CG environments, set extensions, vehicles, crowds, and props that seamlessly integrate with live action photography. This role is hands-on and highly collaborative, requiring a strong artistic eye, technical proficiency in Unreal Engine, and the versatility to work across multiple aspects of the CG process.

The Unreal Artist (Generalist) will focus on the creation and execution of CG replacements and set extensions, working across layout, texturing, material creation, look development, lighting, and rendering through final handoff to the compositing team. This person will also support early R&D, troubleshoot shot and asset challenges, and collaborate with Supervisors and Technical Directors to refine workflows and tools that improve production efficiency.

This is a perfect position for a versatile VFX artist who enjoys working across disciplines and is passionate about the cinematic quality that can be achieved through Unreal Engine, CG, and hybrid visual storytelling.

Work Location:

Onsite in New Orleans, LA

Key Responsibilities:

• Create and refine CG environments, set extensions, replacements, vehicles, crowds, and props within Unreal Engine using provided models, scans, photogrammetry, reference photography, and live action plates.
• Work across layout, texturing, material creation, look development, lighting, and rendering to bring CG environments and assets through final handoff to compositing.
• Create custom textures and materials utilizing various techniques including: hand painting, photo-sourcing, projection mapping, scans, and photogrammetry, to accurately match the surface characteristics and visual language of our fabricated assets.
• Create cinematic lighting in Unreal Engine, replicating live action plates, with an emphasis on integration, fine detail, texture nuance, scale, and the overall aesthetic of the film.
• Implement both static (baked) and dynamic lighting solutions using Unreal Engine.
• Participate in early R&D and visual development to help establish approaches for CG environments, set extensions, replacements, and DMP projections.
• Troubleshoot assets, materials, and scenes, working collaboratively to resolve creative and technical challenges.
• Collaborate with the VFX Supervisor, Unreal Supervisor, artists, and TDs to identify opportunities for tool and workflow improvements.
• Maintain organized files and adhere to studio naming conventions, version control, and pipeline standards.
• Communicate effectively with production, supervisors, and creative leads to ensure work meets both creative and technical requirements.
• Excel in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly, demonstrating flexibility, problem-solving skills, and the ability to maintain output quality amid evolving creative direction.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in high-end live action VFX, animation, or episodic production.
• Strong proficiency in Unreal Engine, with hands-on experience in environment creation, layout, material creation, lookdev, procedural FX, lighting, and rendering.
• Proficiency with industry-standard DCC and texturing applications such as Maya, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Mari, Photoshop, and/or comparable software.
• In-depth knowledge of texture mapping techniques.
• Strong understanding and hands-on experience with Unreal Engine’s sequencer and MRQ/MRG high-end cinematic workflows, as well as performance constraints of working in a real-time engine.
• Familiar with version control tools such as Perforce, SourceTree, or Git.
• Strong artistic eye and deep understanding of visual language including texture, color, composition, dimension, scale, perspective, lighting, motion blur, depth of field, proportion, and spatial awareness.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot creative and technical issues across multiple CG disciplines.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with supervisors, artists, Technical Directors, and production teams.
• An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Blueprints, Python, MEL, or other scripting and tool-development workflows used to improve artist efficiency.
• Experience creating both stylized and photorealistic CG environments and assets.
• Experience with photogrammetry, scanning, and integrating scan-based assets into Unreal Engine.
• Working knowledge of on-set camera workflows, including lenses, lighting setups, and tracking.
• Basic working knowledge of compositing in Nuke, including the ability to create and refine slap comps for presentation.
• Familiarity with DMP and projection-based environment workflows.
• Familiarity with Houdini, ZBrush, Blender, or other 3D software.
• Familiarity with hybrid workflows spanning traditional VFX, practical elements, and real-time CG.
• Familiarity with tracking software such as Shotgrid (Flow Production Tracking), FTrack, or similar.

At Swaybox Studios, we believe that great storytelling comes from diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, talents, and identities.

We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Swaybox Studios also complies with applicable Louisiana laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are dedicated to fostering a creative, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.

At Swaybox Studios, we believe that great storytelling comes from diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, talents, and identities.

We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Swaybox Studios also complies with applicable Louisiana laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are dedicated to fostering a creative, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.