Senior Technical Artist

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote work

Health insurance

Paid time off & dev budget

Impact on art direction

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Artist to join a remote-first game development studio. You will develop and optimize art pipelines, create custom tools, and ensure the art team can deliver high-quality assets across platforms.

You will collaborate with engineering, art, and production, work on shaders, materials, lighting, and performance optimization, and guide the team in best practices while enjoying full remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in technical art for game development.
• Proficiency in Python, MEL or C# for tools.
• Expertise with Maya/Blender and engines Unreal/Unity.
• Strong understanding of PBR materials, shaders, lighting, and optimization.
• Excellent communication and ability to work remotely.
• Portfolio demonstrating technical and artistic solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve art production pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Optimize 3D models, textures, shaders, and animations for maximum performance on target platforms.
• Collaborate with engineers to integrate new engine features and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Create and manage complex shaders, materials, and lighting setups for various assets.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art department, ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Research emerging technologies and methodologies to drive innovation in art production.

Skills

Scripting (Python, MEL, C#)

Remote collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking an experienced Senior Technical Artist to join their innovative and remote-first game development studio. This critical role involves developing and optimizing art pipelines, creating custom tools, and ensuring that the art team can efficiently produce stunning visual assets. You will serve as a key liaison between art and engineering, tackling complex technical challenges and enhancing the overall development workflow. This position offers the unique opportunity to work from anywhere, contributing to cutting-edge projects with a highly skilled and collaborative international team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve art production pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Optimize 3D models, textures, shaders, and animations for maximum performance on target platforms.
• Collaborate with engineers to integrate new engine features and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Create and manage complex shaders, materials, and lighting setups for various assets.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art department, ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Research emerging technologies and methodologies to drive innovation in art production.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in game development, with a portfolio showcasing technical and artistic solutions.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, MEL, or C# for tool development.
• Expertise with 3D software (Maya, Blender) and game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong understanding of PBR materials, shaders, lighting, and performance optimization.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and a budget for professional development.
• Opportunity to shape the technical art direction on exciting new game titles.