Lead Technical Artist - Game Engine Specialist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive salary

Fully remote work

Leadership impact on projects

Access to advanced tools

Continuous learning resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Technical Artist to spearhead technical art in a fully remote development environment. You will bridge art and engineering, optimize workflows, and mentor the art team to maintain high visual quality.

You will collaborate with both art and programming teams to implement rendering features, shaders, and tools, while guiding a remote crew and shaping the future of game development technology.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience as Technical Artist in the game industry with leadership track record.
• Expertise in at least one major engine (Unreal Engine or Unity) and related pipelines.
• Scripting in Python and MEL; shader development and rendering knowledge.
• Strong communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and scripts to enhance artist productivity and asset integration.
• Optimize art assets and engine performance to meet project requirements and platform constraints.
• Collaborate with programmers to implement and refine engine features related to rendering, shaders, and VFX.
• Troubleshoot technical issues encountered by the art team during production.
• Mentor and guide other technical artists, fostering innovation within the remote team.

Skills

Leadership

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python scripting

Shader development

3D modeling

Rigging

MEL scripting

Tools

MEL scripting

Shader languages

Pipeline automation

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced Lead Technical Artist to spearhead their technical art efforts within a fully remote development environment. You will bridge the gap between art and engineering, optimizing workflows, developing tools, and ensuring the efficient integration of art assets into the game engine. This role requires a unique blend of artistic sensibility and deep technical expertise. You will collaborate closely with both art and programming teams to solve complex challenges, improve pipeline efficiency, and maintain the highest visual quality standards. This is a critical leadership position for an individual passionate about empowering artists through innovative technical solutions and shaping the future of game development technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and scripts to enhance artist productivity and asset integration.
• Optimize art assets and engine performance to meet project requirements and target platform constraints.
• Collaborate with programmers to implement and refine engine features related to rendering, shaders, and visual effects.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues encountered by the art team during production.
• Mentor and guide other technical artists, fostering a culture of innovation and problem-solving within the remote team.

Requirements

• Over 7 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game industry, with a proven track record of leadership.
• Expertise in at least one major game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and associated pipelines.
• Strong proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) and shader development.
• Deep understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation principles.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary and significant performance bonuses.
• Fully remote work opportunity, offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Lead impactful technical initiatives on ambitious game projects.
• Access to advanced development tools and continuous learning resources.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking remote team culture that values technical excellence.