VFX Artist

Insomniac; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Insomniac Games is seeking a VFX Artist to craft real-time particle effects for gameplay, environments and cinematics. You will work with cross-functional teams to ensure FX integrate cleanly into the game engine.

This 12-month contract role supports remote work with location-based pay ranges and requires Maya or Houdini, texture work in Photoshop, and shader-network expertise.

Qualifications

• Proficient in real-time VFX concepts and workflows.
• Ability to design and implement particle effects for gameplay, environments and cinematics.
• Strong understanding of texture maps and UV mapping for FX workflows.

Responsibilities

• Create, design, and implement real-time particle effects across game areas.
• Place FX across gameplay, environments, and cinematics.
• Create FX textures (color, normal, specular, AO, height).
• Navigate DCC tools like Maya or Houdini to build FX assets.
• Optimize FX for performance and memory usage.
• Collaborate with art and engineering to integrate FX in the engine.
• Maintain alignment with the game's art style and timing of FX events.

Skills

Maya

Houdini

Shader networks

UV mapping

Texture painting

Team collaboration

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Photoshop

Job description

This is a 12- month contract. This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.

Insomniac Games is looking for a VFX Artist. In this role the VFX Artist is responsible for creating VFX to work and assist in gameplay, environments, and cinematics of games.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates, designs, and implements real-time particle effects using both static and animating 2D/3D elements.
• Placing of visual FX across all areas of the game, including environmental and gameplay FX, and cinematics.
• Create FX textures (color, normal, specular, ambient occlusion, height, and incandescent maps.)
• Possesses at least an intermediate ability to navigate and use DCC software such as Maya, Houdini, or equivalent.
• Creates FX shaders with node-based shader networks.
• Creates simple geometry and UV sets.
• Possesses an intermediate foundation in computer graphics fundamentals and artistic analysis
• Optimizes FX for framerate and memory.
• Collaborates with other development departments to ensure that FX are implemented appropriately in the game engine.
• Understands and adds to the overall art style of game.
• Orchestrates FX events involving layering and timing of different FX to create a believable scene.
• Demonstrated professionalism in attendance, communication, reading comprehension, receiving feedback and working in a production setting.
• Other duties may be assigned

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills

Proficient in Maya, competent working with joints and locators, keyframing, rigid body simulations, hard surface modeling, and UV mapping. Proficient in Photoshop for painting and editing textures. Proficient with node-based shader networks. Knowledge of other visual effects software is a plus.

Other Skills: Good team skills, collaborative attitude, and good observation skills and ability to use reference materials. Ability to work independently. Proficient Animation and timing skills. Solid traditional arts background a plus.

At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision.

This is a flexible role that can be remote, with varying pay ranges based on geographic location. For example, if you are based out of Seattle, the estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.

$75 - $85 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

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