Senior Technical Artist - Real-time VFX

Placements24; Durban; Presencial; ZAR 700.000 - 1.050.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist for a Durban-based game studio. You will bridge artistry and technical execution, building shaders, tools and pipelines to empower the art team and optimize real-time visual effects across platforms.

Collaborate with art directors, VFX artists and engineers to define visual style and performance targets in Unreal Engine or Unity. 6+ years in real-time VFX, shader development, and scripting are required.

Formación

• Minimum 6 years of experience as a Technical Artist with focus on real-time visual effects.
• Proficient in shader development (HLSL/GLSL/Shader Graph) and material creation.
• Strong experience with at least one major game engine (Unreal Engine or Unity).
• Solid programming/scripting skills (C++, Python, C#, MEL).
• Experience creating artist-focused tools and pipelines.

Responsabilidades

• Develop and optimize shaders, materials, and VFX systems in the game engine.
• Create and maintain art pipelines, tools, and scripts for VFX artists.
• Collaborate with art directors, VFX artists, and engineers to define visual style and requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to assets, shaders, and performance.
• Research and implement new technologies to enhance visuals and efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance to the art team and promote knowledge sharing.
• Profile and optimize assets and systems for target platforms.
• Document tools, workflows and best practices for the art department.

Conocimientos

Shader development

Game engines

Scripting

VFX pipelines

Unreal Engine

Herramientas

Maya

Substance Suite

3ds Max

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge game development studio in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA , is looking for a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist to revolutionize their real-time visual effects. This is a studio-based position, fostering direct collaboration and innovation. You will bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical execution, developing tools, shaders, and workflows that empower the art team to create stunning and performant visual effects for next-generation games. We are seeking an individual with a strong understanding of game engines, a passion for visual fidelity, and the ability to solve complex technical challenges. Your expertise will be crucial in achieving breathtaking visual quality while maintaining optimal performance across various platforms. Join a dedicated team in a beautiful coastal city and push the boundaries of visual artistry.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize advanced shaders, materials, and visual effects systems within the chosen game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Create and maintain robust art pipelines, tools, and scripts to streamline the asset creation process for VFX artists.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, VFX artists, and engineers to define and implement the visual style and technical requirements for in-game effects.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to art assets, shaders, and engine performance.
• Research and implement new technologies and techniques to enhance visual quality and performance.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team, fostering a culture of innovation and shared knowledge.
• Profile and optimize art assets and systems to ensure smooth performance on target platforms.
• Document tools, workflows, and best practices for the art department.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience as a Technical Artist, with a strong focus on real-time visual effects.
• Proven expertise in shader development (e.g., HLSL, GLSL, Shader Graph) and material creation.
• Proficiency in at least one major game engine (Unreal Engine or Unity).
• Strong programming or scripting skills (e.g., C++, C#, Python, MEL).
• Experience with 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Suite).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a keen eye for visual detail and performance optimization.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities, essential for a collaborative studio environment.
• Experience developing tools for artists is a significant plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to work on exciting, high-profile projects. You will be part of a talented and passionate team in a creative studio environment, with opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Enjoy working in a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and beautiful surroundings.