Senior Technical Artist (Game Engine Specialist)

Placements24; Klerksdorp; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Bonuses

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is hiring a Senior Technical Artist for a Klerksdorp-based game studio. You will bridge art and technology, optimize assets, and refine pipelines for AAA titles.

You will create shaders, build tools, and collaborate with artists and programmers to drive visual quality and performance in Unreal or Unity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years as Technical Artist in game industry, AAA titles.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong 3D modeling, texturing, animation principles.
• Shader creation and material workflows (HLSL/GLSL).
• Scripting for tools (Python, MEL, C#).
• Experience with profiling and optimization techniques.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Version control experience (Perforce, Git).
• Portfolio demonstrating technical art excellence required.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and maintain art pipelines for game asset creation and integration.
• Create and implement shaders, materials, and visual effects.
• Optimize 3D assets for performance across target platforms.
• Develop tools, scripts, and plugins to improve artist workflow.
• Collaborate with artists, programmers, and designers to implement artistic vision.
• Troubleshoot and debug art-related issues in the game engine.
• Research new technologies to enhance fidelity and performance.
• Provide technical guidance to the art team.
• Establish best practices for asset creation and engine integration.
• Contribute to asset creation when needed (modeling, texturing, lighting).

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

HLSL/GLSL

Python

MEL

C#

Perforce

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an innovative and forward-thinking game development studio based in Klerksdorp, North West , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist with deep expertise in game engines. This critical role bridges the gap between art and technology, ensuring that visually stunning assets are optimized for performance and seamlessly integrated into the game environment. You will be instrumental in developing and refining art pipelines, creating tools and scripts to enhance artist productivity, and troubleshooting complex technical issues. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of 3D art asset creation, shader development, lighting, and performance optimization within modern game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity. Join our dynamic team and play a key role in delivering next-generation gaming experiences from Klerksdorp .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and maintain art pipelines for game asset creation and integration.
• Create and implement efficient shaders, materials, and visual effects within the game engine.
• Optimize 3D assets (models, textures, animations) for performance across target platforms.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and plugins to improve artist workflow and efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with artists, programmers, and designers to solve technical challenges and implement artistic vision.
• Troubleshoot and debug art-related issues within the game engine.
• Research and implement new technologies and techniques to enhance visual fidelity and performance.
• Provide technical guidance and training to the art team.
• Establish and enforce best practices for asset creation and engine integration.
• Contribute to art asset creation as needed, including modeling, texturing, or lighting.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game industry, with a focus on AAA titles.
• Proficiency in major game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, and animation principles.
• Expertise in shader creation (HLSL/GLSL) and material workflows.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL, C#) for tool development.
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git).
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional technical art skills and problem-solving ability is required.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and performance-based bonuses. You will be part of a creative and collaborative studio environment located in Klerksdorp, North West , working on exciting and innovative game projects. We provide opportunities for professional development, including access to training, conferences, and new technologies. Enjoy a supportive work culture that values teamwork and individual contributions, with potential for career growth within the company. We are committed to fostering a workplace where talent can thrive and contribute to the creation of outstanding gaming experiences.