Senior Technical Artist - Game Development

Placements24; Centurion; Híbrido; ZAR 600.000 - 900.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Generous vacation policy

Learning & development

State-of-the-art equipment

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 in Centurion, Gauteng, is seeking a Senior Technical Artist to bridge art and engineering for AAA-style games. You will develop art pipelines, implement shaders, and optimize assets for performance across engines like Unreal or Unity.

You will mentor junior artists, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive technical innovation while preserving visual fidelity. The role requires strong scripting, problem-solving, and a passion for cutting-edge game visuals.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Game Design, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years as a Technical Artist in game development with a relevant portfolio.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine or Unity; strong 3D art, texturing, and animation knowledge.
• Experience creating shaders via visual editors or code; scripting for tools.
• Familiarity with profiling and optimization tools; teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Responsabilidades

• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency and quality for the art team.
• Create and implement complex shaders, materials, and visual effects within the game engine (Unreal/Unity).
• Optimize assets (models, textures, animations) for performance while preserving fidelity.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement and debug technical art features.
• Mentor junior technical artists and provide technical guidance.
• Troubleshoot art-related technical issues across platforms.
• Research new technologies to enhance visuals and performance.
• Ensure adherence to technical and artistic standards; automate tasks with scripts.

Conocimientos

Technical Art

Shader authoring

Pipeline development

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Scripting (Python/C#)

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics / related field

Equivalent industry experience

Herramientas

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

Shader languages (HLSL/GLSL)

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client, a highly acclaimed game development studio based in Centurion, Gauteng, is seeking a talented and experienced Senior Technical Artist to join their expanding team. This critical role bridges the gap between art and engineering, ensuring that visually stunning game assets are optimized for performance and integrated seamlessly into the game engine. You will work closely with both the art and programming departments, tackling complex challenges related to shaders, pipelines, tools development, and asset optimization. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of 3D art pipelines, engine technology, and scripting languages, combined with a passion for creating visually groundbreaking games. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your expertise to AAA titles and shape the future of interactive entertainment from Centurion. We are looking for an individual who can mentor junior artists and drive technical innovation within the art team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. The role demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to artistic excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain art pipelines, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency and quality for the art team.
• Create and implement complex shaders, materials, and visual effects within the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Optimize game assets (models, textures, animations) for performance while maintaining high visual fidelity.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement and debug technical art features.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the art team, including mentoring junior technical artists.
• Troubleshoot and resolve art-related technical issues across different platforms.
• Research and implement new technologies and techniques to enhance visual quality and performance.
• Ensure consistency and adherence to technical and artistic standards throughout the project.
• Develop scripts to automate repetitive tasks and improve art production workflows.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game development industry, with a portfolio showcasing relevant work.
• Proficiency in at least one major game engine (Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Strong understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, and animation principles.
• Expertise in creating and implementing shaders using visual scripting (e.g., Unreal's Material Editor) or code.
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python, Mel, or C# for tool development and pipeline automation.
• Familiarity with performance profiling tools and optimization techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• A passion for video games and a keen eye for visual detail.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and a generous vacation policy.
• Employees have access to continuous learning and development opportunities, including conferences and workshops.
• The studio provides state-of-the-art equipment and a creative, supportive work environment.
• Opportunities for career advancement within a growing company are excellent.

Join our innovative team in Centurion, Gauteng, and help us create unforgettable gaming experiences.