Senior Technical Artist - Game Development

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist for a Polokwane-based game studio. You will bridge art and engineering, optimize assets, and build efficient pipelines for multiplatform games.

You will collaborate with environment and character artists, plus programmers to develop tools, solve technical challenges, and improve workflows. A strong background in engines, shader work, and Python/C# tooling is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 5+ years as a Technical Artist in games.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing tools.
• Strong experience with Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Shader development experience (HLSL/GLSL/Shader Graph).
• Scripting in Python or C# for tooling.
• Understanding of PBR workflows and optimization.
• Good problem-solving and teamwork skills.
• Portfolio showcasing technical art, assets, and pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and maintain art pipelines for game development using engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Create and optimize 3D models, textures, materials, and shaders to meet performance budgets and artistic requirements.
• Implement and manage game assets within the chosen game engine, ensuring proper setup and functionality.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and shaders to enhance the efficiency of the art team and improve visual quality.
• Collaborate with artists and programmers to troubleshoot technical issues related to art assets and engine integration.
• Profile and optimize game performance, identifying and addressing bottlenecks related to graphics and art assets.
• Stay current with new technologies, engine features, and best practices in technical art.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team.
• Document workflows, tools, and best practices for the art department.

Skills

Technical art

Game engines

Scripting (Python/C#)

3D modeling & texturing

Shader development

PBR workflows

Tool development

Performance optimization

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics / Game Development / Fine Arts

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Shader Graph

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and ambitious game studio in Polokwane, is seeking a skilled Senior Technical Artist to bridge the gap between art and engineering. This role is crucial for optimizing game assets, developing efficient art pipelines, and ensuring visual fidelity across multiple platforms. You will work closely with environment artists, character artists, and programmers to solve technical challenges, implement new tools, and improve workflow efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of game engines, art asset creation, scripting, and optimization techniques. Join our client in Polokwane and play a vital role in bringing visually stunning and performant games to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and maintain art pipelines for game development using engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Create and optimize 3D models, textures, materials, and shaders to meet performance budgets and artistic requirements.
• Implement and manage game assets within the chosen game engine, ensuring proper setup and functionality.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and shaders to enhance the efficiency of the art team and improve visual quality.
• Collaborate with artists and programmers to troubleshoot technical issues related to art assets and engine integration.
• Profile and optimize game performance, identifying and addressing bottlenecks related to graphics and art assets.
• Stay current with new technologies, engine features, and best practices in technical art.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team.
• Document workflows, tools, and best practices for the art department.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game industry.
• Proficiency with 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Substance Painter).
• Strong experience with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Experience in shader development (e.g., HLSL, GLSL, Shader Graph, node-based editors).
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, C#) for tool development.
• Understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• A portfolio showcasing technical art skills, optimized assets, and pipeline contributions.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and excellent opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Located in Polokwane, our client provides a stimulating work environment with access to cutting-edge technology and the chance to work on exciting game projects. We foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. Join our client and contribute your technical art expertise to the gaming industry from Polokwane.