Senior Technical Artist (3D Environment)

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Performance bonuses

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist specialized in 3D environments for its Port Elizabeth studio. You will bridge art and engineering, optimize workflows, create shaders, and implement asset pipelines to deliver visually stunning environments across platforms.

The role requires deep knowledge of 3D modeling, texturing, shaders, and engine integration, with a focus on performance and pipeline efficiency. Join a team building immersive game worlds in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist focused on 3D environments.
• Expertise in at least one major engine (Unreal or Unity) and material/shader systems.
• Proficient in Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop.
• Strong shader knowledge (HLSL/GLSL) and material authoring.
• Experience scripting for tooling (Python, Mel).
• Knowledge of PBR workflows and real-time optimization.
• Strong communication and collaboration with artists.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize shaders and materials for real-time environments.
• Create and maintain scalable asset pipelines for environment art.
• Collaborate with environment artists on technical best practices.
• Work with engineers to implement rendering features and performance.
• Profile and optimize assets for target platforms.
• Develop tools and scripts to automate art pipelines.
• Troubleshoot environment art assets and engine integration.
• Stay updated on real-time rendering advancements.
• Contribute to artistic and technical quality of environments.

Skills

Shader programming

Unreal Engine

Unity

3D modeling

Texturing

Python scripting

PBR pipelines

Art pipelines

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading game development studio celebrated for its breathtakingly realistic virtual worlds, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist specializing in 3D Environments for their studio in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. This role serves as a critical bridge between art and engineering, focusing on optimizing workflows, developing shaders, and implementing advanced asset pipelines for environment creation. You will be instrumental in ensuring that our visually stunning environments are both aesthetically superior and technically performant across all target platforms. We are looking for an individual with a profound understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, shaders, and engine integration, coupled with a passion for problem-solving and workflow efficiency. Join our team in Port Elizabeth and help build the next generation of immersive game worlds.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize complex shaders and materials for 3D environments in Unreal Engine or Unity.


• Create and maintain efficient and scalable asset pipelines for environment art creation, including modeling, texturing, and asset integration.


• Collaborate with environment artists to guide them on technical best practices, optimization, and asset creation standards.


• Work closely with engine programmers to implement and improve rendering features and performance.


• Profile and optimize environment assets to meet performance targets (e.g., polygon count, draw calls, memory usage).


• Develop tools and scripts to automate art pipeline tasks and improve artist productivity.


• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to environment art assets and engine implementation.


• Stay current with the latest advancements in real-time rendering technology and game engines.


• Contribute to the overall artistic quality and technical execution of the game's environments.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game industry, with a strong focus on 3D environments.


• Expertise in at least one major game engine (Unreal Engine or Unity) and its material/shader systems.


• Proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop).


• Strong understanding of shader languages (HLSL/GLSL) and material authoring.


• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Mel) for tool development and pipeline automation.


• Excellent knowledge of PBR workflows and asset optimization techniques for real-time rendering.


• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.


• Good communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts to artists.


• A portfolio showcasing technical art solutions for 3D environments.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, pension fund contributions, performance bonuses, and ample paid time off. We foster a creative and collaborative studio culture in Port Elizabeth that encourages innovation and professional development. Join us and shape the visual future of gaming.