VFX Director: Real-Time World Visuals Leader

confidential; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Studio Wildcard is seeking an experienced VFX Director to lead the visual effects vision across our real-time games and cinematic experiences. You will define artistic direction, technical standards, and production workflows for Unreal-based VFX with a focus on performance and readability.

You will mentor a team of VFX artists, establish style guides, and collaborate across Art, Design, Animation, and Engineering to deliver cohesive, spectacular effects for large open worlds and dynamic scenes.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience creating VFX for AAA games, film, animation, or comparable real-time entertainment.
• Previous experience leading or directing a VFX team.
• Strong understanding of real-time VFX production and Unreal 5+.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain a cohesive visual style across a large project.
• Strong artistic understanding of color, composition, timing, motion, lighting, scale, and visual storytelling.
• Experience with particle systems, shaders/materials, textures, animation, simulations, and procedural effects.
• Strong understanding of performance optimization and real-time rendering constraints.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to provide clear artistic feedback while maintaining a positive and creative team environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the overall VFX artistic vision and quality bar for Studio Wildcard projects.
• Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, providing creative direction and professional development.
• Develop VFX style guides, visual standards, workflows, and production best practices.
• Collaborate with Art, Design, Animation, and Engineering to build cohesive visual experiences.
• Oversee gameplay VFX including environment effects, abilities, weapons, destruction, weather, and magic.
• Ensure VFX assets meet performance, readability, and platform requirements.
• Improve VFX tools and pipelines with Technical Art and Engineers.
• Balance visual quality with gameplay readability and performance.

Skills

VFX Leadership

Unreal Engine

Real-time VFX

Cinematic VFX

Shader Work

Team Mentoring

Tools

Niagara

Houdini

Substance tools

Job description

Studio Wildcard is seeking an experienced VFX Director to lead the visual effects vision across our real-time games and cinematic experiences. You will define artistic direction, technical standards, and production workflows for Unreal-based VFX with a focus on performance and readability.

You will mentor a team of VFX artists, establish style guides, and collaborate across Art, Design, Animation, and Engineering to deliver cohesive, spectacular effects for large open worlds and dynamic scenes.