Senior Technical Artist & Shader Specialist

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement contributions

Performance bonuses

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Randburg, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Technical Artist & Shader Specialist to bridge art and technology. You will optimize workflows, create shaders and materials, and develop tools to boost real‑time performance and visual fidelity across our game projects.

You will collaborate with art directors and engineers in a hybrid role combining in‑office collaboration with remote flexibility, mentored by a creative team pushing the graphical boundaries.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Technical Artist or Shader Specialist with strong shader and material work.
• Solid understanding of PBR workflows, UV mapping, and real‑time optimization.
• Proficiency in shader languages (HLSL/GLSL) and visual editors in major engines.
• Experience with industry DCC tools (Maya/3ds Max/Blender) and scripting (Python/MEL).

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain high‑quality shaders and materials for game assets.
• Optimize art assets for real‑time performance within the game engine.
• Create tools, scripts, and plugins to improve art production pipelines.
• Collaborate with art directors and environment artists to achieve visual targets.
• Assist artists with technical challenges related to asset creation and engine integration.
• Profile and debug performance issues related to assets and shaders.
• Research and implement new rendering techniques and technologies.
• Document technical processes and shader best practices.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the art team.

Skills

Shader development

Pipeline optimization

Material creation

Education

Degree in Computer Graphics, Digital Art, Game Development, or related field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity Shader Graph

Maya

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading studio known for its visually stunning productions, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist & Shader Specialist to join their creative powerhouse in Randburg, Gauteng. This role is crucial for bridging the gap between art and technology, empowering artists by optimizing workflows, developing tools, and crafting cutting‑edge shaders that define the visual fidelity of our projects. You will be instrumental in pushing the graphical boundaries, ensuring assets are performant and visually impactful within our game engine. The ideal candidate possesses a strong artistic eye combined with deep technical expertise in shader development, material creation, and pipeline optimization. You will work collaboratively within a vibrant team in Randburg, contributing to the aesthetic excellence of our acclaimed titles. This hybrid role offers the best of both worlds, combining essential in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain high-quality shaders and materials for various game assets.
• Optimize art assets (models, textures, animations) for real-time performance within the game engine.
• Create and maintain tools, scripts, and plugins to improve art production pipelines and workflows.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, concept artists, and environment artists to achieve desired visual targets.
• Assist artists with technical challenges related to art asset creation and engine integration.
• Profile and debug performance issues related to art assets and shaders.
• Research and implement new rendering techniques and technologies.
• Document technical processes, tools, and shader best practices.
• Ensure consistency in art quality and technical standards across the project.
• Provide technical guidance and support to other members of the art team.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Technical Artist or Shader Specialist in the game industry.
• Strong portfolio showcasing advanced shader development, material creation, and pipeline optimization skills.
• Proficiency in shader languages (e.g., HLSL, GLSL) and visual shader editors (e.g., Unreal Engine Material Editor, Unity Shader Graph).
• Expertise with DCC tools (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL).
• Solid understanding of PBR workflows, 3D modeling, texturing, and UV mapping.
• Experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, essential for a hybrid work environment.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Degree in Computer Graphics, Digital Art, Game Development, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid, retirement contributions, and performance bonuses.
• This hybrid role provides flexibility, balancing collaborative work in our Randburg studio with remote work options.
• Employees benefit from continuous professional development opportunities and career growth paths within the company.
• Our client fosters a creative, supportive, and innovative work environment in Gauteng.