Lead Real-Time VFX Artist — Shape Immersive Games

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead VFX Artist in our Gauteng studio to drive real‑time effects for multiple projects. You will guide a team of artists to craft high‑fidelity particle systems, simulations, and shaders that elevate gameplay and visuals.

You will define visual style, establish pipelines, and optimize performance across targets, while collaborating with directors and engineers. A strong leadership mindset and a compelling portfolio are essential.

Qualifications

• 6+ years as a VFX Artist in the game industry, with lead or senior experience.
• Strong portfolio of real‑time VFX work for shipped titles (particles, simulations, shaders).
• Proficient in Maya/3ds Max, Substance Painter.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, ensuring artistic quality and technical efficiency.
• Develop real‑time visual effects for games, including particle systems, fluids, shaders, and environmental effects.
• Establish and maintain visual quality standards and pipelines for VFX creation and implementation.
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, and engineers to integrate VFX into gameplay.
• Optimize VFX performance for smooth frame rates and resource use across platforms.
• Create proof‑of‑concept VFX to explore new directions and tech possibilities.
• Manage the VFX asset pipeline and integration into the game engine.
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices in real‑time VFX.

Skills

Real-time VFX

Leadership

Shader programming

Portfolio demos

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Niagara

Shader Graph

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead VFX Artist in our Gauteng studio to drive real‑time effects for multiple projects. You will guide a team of artists to craft high‑fidelity particle systems, simulations, and shaders that elevate gameplay and visuals.

You will define visual style, establish pipelines, and optimize performance across targets, while collaborating with directors and engineers. A strong leadership mindset and a compelling portfolio are essential.