Lead Technical Artist - Game Engine Optimization

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Retirement plan

Hybrid work flexibility

Professional growth

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Technical Artist in Kimberley, Northern Cape to optimize art pipelines, accelerate asset workflows, and mentor a team of technical artists. The role requires deep engine knowledge (Unreal or Unity), shader development, and strong scripting capability for toolkit automation.

You will bridge art and technology to maintain high visual fidelity within performance budgets while collaborating with designers, programmers, and the art team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in CG/CS.
• 7+ years as a Technical Artist in games with shipped titles.
• Expertise in Unreal Engine or Unity and pipelines.
• Strong 3D modeling/texturing with Maya/3ds Max and Substance.
• Shader development (HLSL/GLSL) and material authoring.
• Experience with Python, C#, or Blueprint for tools.
• Knowledge of profiling across PC/Console.
• Excellent problem solving and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain efficient art pipelines.
• Optimize 3D assets, textures, shaders, and lighting for real-time rendering.
• Create and manage custom shaders, tools, and scripts.
• Collaborate with designers, programmers, and art team to fix issues.
• Profile and analyze performance to improve frame rates.
• Mentor junior technical artists.
• Research and evaluate new technologies to improve production.
• Ensure technical art standards throughout the project lifecycle.
• Troubleshoot technical art problems across platforms.

Skills

Technical leadership

Unreal Engine

Unity

Shader development

Python

C#

Performance profiling

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, Computer Science

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Substance Suite

HLSL/GLSL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent independent game studio celebrated for its innovative gameplay mechanics and visually rich titles, is seeking a Lead Technical Artist to enhance their team in Kimberley, Northern Cape . This pivotal role requires a blend of artistic sensibility and strong technical expertise to optimize game assets, develop efficient pipelines, and support the art team in achieving high-quality visuals within performance budgets. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between art and technology, ensuring seamless integration of assets into the game engine and solving complex technical challenges. The ideal candidate possesses deep knowledge of game engines, scripting, shaders, and performance profiling. We are looking for a proactive problem-solver and a collaborative team player who can mentor junior artists and drive technical excellence. This is an exciting opportunity to influence the technical backbone of critically acclaimed games and contribute to the studio's ongoing success in the competitive gaming market.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain efficient art pipelines and workflows for game development.
• Optimize 3D assets, textures, shaders, and lighting for real-time rendering to ensure maximum performance and visual quality.
• Create and manage custom shaders, tools, and scripts to enhance art creation efficiency and capabilities within the game engine.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, programmers, and the art team to identify and resolve technical art issues.
• Profile and analyze game performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions to improve frame rates and memory usage.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior technical artists and the wider art team.
• Research and evaluate new technologies, tools, and techniques to improve the art production process and visual fidelity.
• Ensure technical art standards and best practices are followed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Troubleshoot and debug technical art-related problems across multiple platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the video game industry, with a proven track record on multiple shipped titles.
• Expertise in one or more major game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their associated tools and pipelines.
• Strong proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Suite).
• Advanced knowledge of shader development (HLSL/GLSL), material authoring, and engine rendering features.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, C#, Blueprint) for tool development and automation.
• Understanding of performance profiling tools and techniques across various platforms (PC, Console).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and guide a team.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and retirement plans, and opportunities for professional growth and development. Employees enjoy a creative and collaborative work environment in our studio located in Kimberley, Northern Cape , with hybrid work flexibility. We provide access to cutting-edge technology and foster a culture that encourages innovation and artistic excellence. Join a studio that values your technical expertise and artistic vision, and contribute to the creation of memorable gaming experiences.