VFX Artist

Companion Group; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Competitive salary

Career progression

Job summary

Companion Group is seeking a seasoned VFX Artist to craft real-time visual effects for our multiplayer games. You will collaborate with artists, designers, and engineers to build high-quality effects that enhance gameplay, storytelling, and immersion.

The role focuses on explosions, magic spells, weather, and environmental effects, using Unreal Engine Niagara and other VFX tools. This is a fixed-term contract until October 2025 with a fully remote setup and cross-platform optimization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in game VFX.
• Proficiency with Unreal Engine Niagara or other real-time VFX tools.
• Strong understanding of particle systems, shaders, lighting, and materials.
• Experience with Houdini, Blender, or Maya for simulation-based effects.
• Knowledge of PBR workflows and real-time optimization.
• Basic shader programming or scripting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement real-time visual effects for characters, environments, and gameplay interactions.
• Work with particle systems, shaders, and physics-based simulations to create high-quality effects.
• Develop and optimise VFX assets while maintaining performance standards across platforms.
• Collaborate with the art, animation, and game design teams to ensure VFX aligns with the game’s visual style and mechanics.
• Create stylised and realistic VFX such as fire, smoke, explosions, energy effects, weather, and destruction.
• Utilise Unreal Engine’s Niagara or other VFX tools to develop advanced effects.
• Optimise effects to ensure smooth performance without sacrificing visual fidelity.
• Research and prototype new techniques to push the boundaries of real-time VFX.
• Maintain clear and organised technical documentation of workflows and best practices.

Skills

VFX experience

Unreal Niagara

Particle systems

Shaders & lighting

Houdini

Blender

Maya

PBR workflows

Shader programming

Tools

Houdini

Blender

Maya

Job description

Companion Group is a AAA co-development gaming studio with a globally distributed and fully remote setup. We are renowned for overcoming the most intricate challenges in multiplayer game development, making us the primary choice for clients aspiring to elevate their multiplayer titles. Our expertise enables scalability, maximises player density, and crafts immersive gameplay experiences.

Seamlessly embedded within our clients’ in-house teams, we collaborate harmoniously to turn dreams into reality. Our portfolio features groundbreaking games developed alongside major studios. We take pride in our global remote team, which values clear communication and technical excellence.

We seek a VFX Artist to create stunning visual effects that bring our game worlds to life. You’ll work closely with artists, designers, and engineers to craft real-time VFX that enhances gameplay, storytelling, and immersion. We'd love to hear from you if you are passionate about creating impactful explosions, magical spells, dynamic weather, and immersive environmental effects!

This is for a fixed term contract until the end of October 2025.

Your Responsibilities:

• Design and implement real-time visual effects for characters, environments, and gameplay interactions.

• Work with particle systems, shaders, and physics-based simulations to create high-quality effects.

• Develop and optimise VFX assets while maintaining performance standards across platforms.

• Collaborate with the art, animation, and game design teams to ensure VFX aligns with the game’s visual style and mechanics.

• Create stylised and realistic VFX such as fire, smoke, explosions, energy effects, weather, and destruction.

• Utilise Unreal Engine’s Niagara or other VFX tools to develop advanced effects.

• Optimise effects to ensure smooth performance without sacrificing visual fidelity.

• Research and prototype new techniques to push the boundaries of real-time VFX.

• Maintain clear and organised technical documentation of workflows and best practices.

Your Profile:

• 5+ years of experience as a VFX Artist in game development.

• Proficiency with Unreal Engine’s Niagara or other real-time VFX tools (Unity’s VFX Graph, PopcornFX, etc.).

• Strong understanding of particle systems, shaders, lighting, and materials.

• Experience with Houdini, Blender, or Maya for simulation-based effects.

• Solid grasp of physics, motion, and timing for realistic and stylised VFX.

• Familiarity with PBR workflows and optimisation techniques for real-time performance.

• Basic knowledge of shader programming (HLSL, GLSL) or scripting is a plus.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced game development environment.

Bonus Skills:

• Experience working on AAA or indie games with high-quality VFX.

• Background in animation or technical art.

• Understanding of rigid body dynamics, fluid simulations, and destruction workflows.

• Passion for video games and knowledge of industry trends in real-time VFX.

• Knowledge of Nintendo Switch hardware limitations and optimisation techniques.

Benefits:

• A competitive salary.

• A clear career progression path with opportunities for growth and recognition.

• Fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere.

• Work alongside industry veterans.

• Be part of a passionate, dynamic team working on exciting, boundary-pushing projects.