Senior Technical Artist

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Comprehensive benefits package

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape seeks a Senior Technical Artist to bridge art and technology, optimizing assets and developing efficient pipelines for real-time performance. You will lead shader development and collaborate with artists and engineers to implement high-quality visuals within budgets.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in technical art, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya/Blender and UE/Unity pipelines. Upington-based studio offers growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in computer graphics or game design.
• Minimum 5 years as a Technical Artist in games.
• Strong portfolio with optimization, scripting, and shader work.
• Proficiency in Maya/3ds Max/Blender and Substance Painter.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity and pipeline tooling.

Responsibilities

• Optimize 3D models, textures, and animations for real‑time performance.
• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Create and implement custom shaders for artistic looks.
• Troubleshoot technical art issues for artists and engineers.
• Ensure assets meet technical requirements and budgets.
• Collaborate with engineers to integrate art assets into the game engine.
• Document best practices for asset creation and optimization.
• Research new tech to enhance visual quality and performance.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team.

Skills

3D art

Shader development

Pipeline tools

Python scripting

MEL/C# scripting

Artistic eye

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Design, or related

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly regarded game development studio located in **Upington, Northern Cape**, is seeking a Senior Technical Artist to bridge the gap between art and technology. This critical role involves optimizing art assets, developing efficient art pipelines, and solving complex technical challenges to ensure the highest quality visual output within performance constraints. You will work closely with both artists and engineers, providing technical expertise to empower the art team and enhance the overall game development process. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of 3D art creation, scripting, shader development, and game engine pipelines. You will play a key part in ensuring that visually stunning art can be implemented efficiently and effectively in their upcoming titles. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute your unique blend of artistic and technical skills in a growing studio.

Key Responsibilities

• Optimize 3D models, textures, and animations for real-time performance in game engines.
• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency and quality.
• Create and implement custom shaders to achieve desired artistic looks and effects.
• Troubleshoot technical art issues, providing solutions for artists and engineers.
• Collaborate with artists to ensure assets meet technical requirements and performance budgets.
• Work with engineers to integrate art assets and features into the game engine.
• Develop and document best practices for art asset creation and optimization.
• Research and implement new technologies and techniques to enhance visual quality and performance.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Design, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game industry.
• Strong portfolio showcasing technical art skills, including optimization, scripting, and shader work.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender).
• Expertise in texturing software (e.g., Substance Painter, Photoshop).
• Experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL, C#) for pipeline tools.
• Solid understanding of shader development and material creation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a strong artistic eye.
• Good communication and collaboration abilities.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package. Employees will enjoy a creative and collaborative work environment in **Upington, Northern Cape**, with opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Join a passionate team working on exciting game projects and contribute to the growth of the studio. Access to the latest industry tools and technologies will be provided. This role offers a unique chance to shape the technical aspects of art creation in a supportive and innovative setting.