Lead VFX Artist (Game Development)

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Retirement benefits

Annual bonus structure

Relocation assistance

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town seeks a Lead VFX Artist to head the VFX department. You will guide a skilled team, define the visual direction for all in-game effects, and deliver high-performance shaders and particle systems for explosions, magic, and environmental phenomena.

You will collaborate with art directors and designers to elevate gameplay and narrative, optimize VFX for multiple platforms, and establish robust pipelines and asset management practices.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in VFX art for video games.
• 2 shipped AAA titles in a lead or senior capacity.
• Proven leadership experience mentoring a team of artists.
• Expert in 3D DCC packages and real-time VFX editors.
• Strong shader development, material creation, and optimization knowledge.
• Excellent eye for composition, color, timing and motion.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-impact, optimized VFX for games.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of VFX artists to achieve outstanding visual results.
• Develop and implement the overall visual style and technical direction for in-game VFX.
• Create high-performance particle effects, shaders, and post-processing for explosions, magic, environment effects, and UI feedback.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to enhance gameplay and narrative through VFX.
• Optimize VFX for performance across target platforms with attention to frame rate and memory usage.
• Establish best practices for VFX creation, pipelines, and asset management.
• Review team work regularly, provide constructive feedback and uphold quality standards.
• Stay updated with industry trends, tools, and real-time VFX advancements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to VFX implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentorship

VFX artistry

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Unreal Engine Niagara

Unity VFX Graph

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned studio recognized for its visually stunning and technically advanced video games, is seeking an exceptional Lead VFX Artist to head their visual effects department in Cape Town, Western Cape. This pivotal role demands a blend of artistic mastery, technical expertise, and leadership acumen. You will be responsible for defining and maintaining the high visual fidelity of our game world's dynamic effects, from explosive action sequences to subtle environmental magic. As a Lead, you will guide a team of talented artists, ensuring artistic consistency, pushing creative boundaries, and optimizing workflows. You will work hand-in-hand with art directors, engineers, and game designers to bring breathtaking visual experiences to life in Cape Town. This is an unparalleled opportunity to leave your mark on industry-leading titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of VFX artists to achieve outstanding visual results.
• Develop and implement the overall visual style and technical direction for all in-game visual effects.
• Create stunning, high-performance particle effects, shaders, and post-processing effects for various game elements, including explosions, magic, environmental phenomena, and UI feedback.
• Collaborate closely with art directors and game designers to conceptualize and execute VFX that enhance gameplay and narrative.
• Work with technical artists and engineers to optimize VFX for performance across target platforms, ensuring smooth frame rates and efficient memory usage.
• Establish and maintain best practices for VFX creation, pipeline integration, and asset management.
• Conduct regular reviews of team's work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and artistic advancements in real-time VFX.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to VFX implementation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in VFX art for video games, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles in a lead or senior capacity.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring a team of artists.
• Expert proficiency in leading 3D DCC packages (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max) and real-time VFX editors (e.g., Unreal Engine Niagara, Unity VFX Graph).
• Strong understanding of shader development, material creation, and optimization techniques.
• Excellent artistic eye for composition, color, timing, and motion.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, HLSL/GLSL) is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment in Cape Town, Western Cape.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional skill in creating high-impact, optimized VFX for games.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive medical aid and retirement benefits, a generous annual bonus structure, relocation assistance for qualified candidates, and significant opportunities for career advancement. We cultivate a dynamic and supportive work culture in Cape Town that encourages creativity and collaboration.