Senior Technical Artist - 3D Modeling & Optimization

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist in Port Elizabeth to bridge art and tech for real‑time rendering. You will optimize assets, build pipelines, and create tools to support artists and engineers in high‑fidelity simulations.

You will work across Maya/Max/Blender, Unreal or Unity, focusing on PBR workflows and shader development, while mentoring teammates and contributing to performance goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years as Technical Artist with a focus on 3D modeling and optimization.
• Proficient in Maya, 3ds Max or Blender and real‑time engine pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of PBR workflows and shader creation.
• Experience with Python, MEL or C# scripting for tools.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts between artists and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain efficient 3D asset pipelines for real‑time rendering.
• Create high‑quality models, textures and materials within budgets.
• Build tools, scripts and shaders to improve art workflows.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to troubleshoot asset issues.
• Optimize assets to reduce draw calls, polygons and memory usage.

Skills

3D modelling

Asset optimization

Shader development

Python

MEL

C#

Unreal Engine

Unity

PBR workflows

Maya

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, or related field

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading developer of simulation and training software, is looking for a Senior Technical Artist to join their innovative team in **Port Elizabeth**. This role is crucial for bridging the gap between artistic creation and technical implementation, ensuring that high-quality 3D assets are optimized for performance within real-time rendering environments. You will work closely with 3D artists and engineers to develop efficient workflows, create robust tools, and troubleshoot complex technical challenges. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge simulation technologies in **Port Elizabeth**, enhancing realism and performance for critical training applications. If you have a passion for optimizing 3D assets and a knack for technical problem‑solving, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain efficient 3D asset creation pipelines, focusing on optimization for real-time rendering.
• Create and implement high-quality 3D models, textures, and materials, adhering to performance budgets.
• Develop and maintain tools, scripts, and shaders to improve the art workflow and asset quality.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to art assets and engine integration.
• Optimize existing art assets for performance, reducing polygon counts, draw calls, and memory usage without sacrificing visual fidelity.
• Establish and enforce best practices for 3D asset creation and integration.
• Work with the team to define technical requirements for art assets.
• Stay updated on new technologies and techniques in real-time rendering and 3D asset optimization.
• Provide technical guidance and support to other members of the art team.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist, with a strong focus on 3D modeling and optimization.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Expertise in optimizing assets for real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Strong understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows.
• Experience with scripting languages like Python, MEL, or C#.
• Knowledge of shader development and creation.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both artists and engineers.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and opportunities for continuous learning and professional development. The position in **Port Elizabeth** allows you to work on impactful projects within a collaborative and supportive team environment. We are committed to fostering innovation and providing a rewarding career path for our employees.