Principal Technical Artist - Shading & Rendering

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 2,988,000 - 4,315,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work from anywhere

Industry-leading compensation package

Significant opportunities for growth

Work on AAA titles with world-class团队

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Technical Artist to lead shading and rendering innovations for AAA titles in a fully remote role. You will develop cutting-edge shaders, optimize pipelines, and set technical standards across platforms to deliver high-fidelity visuals.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of graphics experience, deep knowledge of C++ and shader languages, and a proven track record with Unreal Engine or Unity.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Graphics, or related field, or equivalent extensive professional experience.
• 10+ years in technical art or graphics programming with focus on shading and rendering.
• Proficiency in C++ and shader languages (HLSL/GLSL/WGSL).
• Deep understanding of rendering pipelines, graphics APIs (DirectX, Vulkan, Metal), and optimization techniques.
• Experience with Unreal Engine and/or Unity.
• Proven ability to develop complex PBR shaders and materials.
• Strong mathematical foundation, particularly in linear algebra and calculus.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and mentoring capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within a fully remote team environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced PBR shaders and rendering techniques.
• Optimize rendering performance across PC, console, and mobile.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to define visuals and technical requirements.
• Create and maintain a library of reusable shaders, materials, and rendering tools.
• Mentor and guide technical artists and engineers in shading and rendering.
• Research and prototype new graphics technologies and rendering approaches.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex rendering issues and bottlenecks.
• Define best practices and standards for material creation and shader development.
• Contribute to graphics architecture and technical roadmap.
• Stay at the forefront of real-time rendering advancements.

Skills

Shading expertise

Graphics programming

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science / Computer Graphics

PhD in Computer Science / Graphics (or equivalent experience)

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

DirectX

Vulkan

Metal

HLSL

GLSL

WGSL

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Technical Artist to lead advancements in shading and rendering technologies. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to shape the visual future of our client's projects from anywhere in the world. You will be responsible for developing cutting-edge shaders, optimizing rendering pipelines, and setting the technical bar for visual quality across all titles. This role demands deep expertise in graphics programming, material authoring, and cross-platform optimization, coupled with strong leadership and mentorship capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement advanced PBR shaders and rendering techniques for game engines.
• Optimize rendering performance across various platforms (PC, console, mobile) to achieve high visual fidelity and frame rates.
• Collaborate closely with artists and engineers to define and implement the visual style and technical requirements for rendering.
• Create and maintain a robust library of reusable shaders, materials, and rendering tools.
• Mentor and guide technical artists and engineers in areas of shading and rendering.
• Research and prototype new graphics technologies and rendering approaches.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex rendering-related issues, performance bottlenecks, and visual artifacts.
• Define best practices and standards for material creation and shader development.
• Contribute to the overall graphics architecture and technical roadmap.
• Stay at the forefront of industry advancements in real-time rendering.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent extensive professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in technical art or graphics programming, with a significant focus on shading and rendering.
• Expert proficiency in C++ and shader languages (e.g., HLSL, GLSL, WGSL).
• Deep understanding of rendering pipelines, graphics APIs (DirectX, Vulkan, Metal), and optimization techniques.
• Extensive experience with major game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Proven ability to develop complex PBR shaders and materials.
• Strong mathematical foundation, particularly in linear algebra and calculus.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and mentoring capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within a fully remote team environment.

Benefits

• This is a fully remote opportunity, offering unparalleled flexibility and the chance to work from any location.
• Our client provides an industry-leading compensation package, comprehensive benefits, and significant opportunities for professional growth and impact.
• You will be instrumental in defining the visual quality of future AAA titles, working with a world-class team of developers.
• Enjoy the autonomy and freedom of a remote position while pushing the boundaries of real-time graphics.