Lead 3D Generalist & Technical Artist (Virtual Production Focus)

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Flexible schedule

Competitive compensation

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead 3D Generalist & Technical Artist for a fully remote role in the digital arts space. You will guide a distributed team, build efficient pipelines, and push high-fidelity assets for real-time virtual production projects.

Ideal candidates have strong portfolios across modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, and optimization, with hands-on experience in Unreal Engine and scripting to automate workflows.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Lead or Senior Technical Artist in real-time/virtual production.
• Portfolio showcasing modeling, texturing, shading, lighting for real-time workflows.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity and performance profiling.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3D artists and technical artists.
• Develop and maintain real-time asset pipelines for environments and characters.
• Create high-quality models, textures, and shaders optimized for virtual production.
• Implement materials, lighting, and rendering techniques in real-time engines.
• Troubleshoot complex technical art issues and ensure asset integration.

Skills

3D Generalist

Technical Artist

Unreal Engine

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Mari

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a groundbreaking studio at the forefront of interactive entertainment and virtual production, is looking for a highly skilled Lead 3D Generalist & Technical Artist to join their entirely remote workforce. This critical role involves overseeing the creation of high-fidelity 3D assets and developing efficient pipelines for real-time rendering. You will guide a team of talented artists, ensuring the technical feasibility and artistic quality of assets for cutting-edge virtual production projects. As a remote-first company, we thrive on clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and a shared passion for innovation. The ideal candidate possesses a comprehensive understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, and optimization within real-time engines, with a specific focus on virtual production workflows. This is an unparalleled opportunity to shape the visual destiny of projects using advanced technology, contributing to a leading player in the digital arts space from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a team of 3D artists and technical artists in asset creation and pipeline development. Develop and maintain robust 3D asset creation pipelines for real-time environments and characters. Create high-quality 3D models, textures, and shaders optimized for performance in virtual production pipelines. Implement and refine materials, lighting, and rendering techniques within real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine). Collaborate closely with directors, art directors, and technical teams to define asset requirements and technical specifications. Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical art issues, ensuring smooth asset integration and rendering. Develop and implement tools, scripts, and shaders to improve artist efficiency and asset quality. Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices in 3D art, technical art, and virtual production. Ensure artistic consistency and adherence to quality standards across all 3D assets. Conduct performance profiling and optimization of 3D scenes and assets for real-time applications.

Requirements

Proven experience as a Lead or Senior Technical Artist/3D Generalist with a strong focus on real-time and virtual production. Exceptional portfolio showcasing a wide range of 3D art skills, including modeling, texturing, shading, and lighting, with an emphasis on real-time application. Expertise in 3D software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and texturing tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Mari). Advanced proficiency with Unreal Engine or Unity, including material editor, lighting, and performance profiling. Strong understanding of scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for tool development. Experience with virtual production workflows, including motion capture and real-time cinematography. Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to technical challenges. Strong leadership and communication skills, essential for managing a remote team. Ability to effectively balance artistic quality with technical performance constraints. Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrable experience.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers exceptional flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere. Our client provides a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, continuous professional development opportunities, and the chance to work on groundbreaking projects that define the future of entertainment. You'll join a collaborative and forward-thinking team dedicated to artistic and technical excellence. Experience the forefront of virtual production and 3D artistry with a company that values innovation and empowers its remote employees. Contribute your expertise from Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal , or any location that inspires you.