Senior Technical Artist (VFX Specialist)

Placements24; Centurion; Presencial; ZAR 900.000 - 1.300.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Medical and dental coverage

Performance-based bonus structure

Pension fund

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Artist specializing in real-time VFX for a Centurion-based game development studio. You will bridge art and engineering, optimize VFX pipelines, and deliver stunning in-game effects using Unreal Engine or Unity.

You will develop shaders, particle systems, and tools, collaborate with artists and engineers, profile performance, and mentor junior artists. On-site role in Gauteng offers competitive salary and benefits for high-profile projects.

Formación

• Proven experience as a Senior Technical Artist specializing in real-time VFX development for games.
• Deep understanding of real-time rendering, shader creation, and particle systems.
• Strong portfolio of in-game visual effects across engines (Unreal/Unity).

Responsabilidades

• Design, implement, and optimize real-time VFX using industry-standard engines (Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Develop and maintain complex particle systems, shaders, and material graphs for in-game effects.
• Collaborate with art directors to translate concepts into technically feasible VFX.
• Work with gameplay engineers to integrate VFX into gameplay mechanics and systems.
• Profile and optimize VFX assets for performance across target hardware.
• Create tools, scripts, and plugins to enhance VFX pipeline efficiency.
• Develop and document best practices for VFX creation and implementation.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to VFX rendering and performance.
• Mentor junior technical artists on VFX techniques and optimization.
• Stay current with advancements in real-time VFX technology and rendering techniques.

Conocimientos

Real-time VFX

Shader creation

Particle systems

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

C#

Artistic sensibility

Educación

Degree in Computer Graphics

Game Development

Herramientas

Unreal Engine Niagara

Unity Shuriken

Maya

Houdini

Photoshop

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client, a leading game development studio based in Centurion, Gauteng , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Artist with a specialization in Visual Effects (VFX). This role is critical in bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical implementation, ensuring that breathtaking visual effects are created efficiently and performantly within our game engine. You will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and maintaining our VFX pipeline, working closely with artists and engineers to deliver stunning in-game effects that enhance player immersion. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of real-time rendering, shader creation, and particle systems, coupled with strong artistic sensibilities. This is an opportunity to contribute your expertise to exciting, high-profile projects within a collaborative and innovative studio environment located in Centurion . You will play a key role in defining the visual fidelity and performance benchmarks for our games, ensuring a top-tier graphical experience for players worldwide. Your contributions will be vital in bringing our game worlds to life with dynamic and captivating visual effects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize real-time visual effects (VFX) using industry-standard engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Develop and maintain complex particle systems, shaders, and material graphs for various in-game effects.
• Collaborate with art directors and concept artists to translate artistic concepts into technically feasible VFX.
• Work closely with gameplay engineers to integrate VFX seamlessly into gameplay mechanics and systems.
• Profile and optimize VFX assets for performance across target hardware platforms.
• Create tools, scripts, and plugins to enhance the efficiency of the VFX pipeline.
• Develop and document best practices for VFX creation and implementation.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to VFX rendering and performance.
• Mentor junior technical artists and provide guidance on VFX techniques and optimization.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in real-time VFX technology and rendering techniques.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Senior Technical Artist specializing in real-time VFX development for games.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality in-game visual effects.
• Expertise in one or more major game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their VFX systems (Niagara, Shuriken, etc.).
• Proficiency in shader creation languages (HLSL, GLSL) and material authoring tools.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, C#) for pipeline development and automation.
• Strong understanding of 3D art principles, lighting, and composition.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and artistic teams.
• Experience with DCC tools such as Maya, 3ds Max, Houdini, and Photoshop.
• A degree in Computer Graphics, Game Development, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Willingness to work on-site in Centurion, Gauteng .

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary and benefits package. This includes comprehensive medical and dental coverage, a performance-based bonus structure, a pension fund, and opportunities for continuous professional development. Employees benefit from access to the latest hardware and software, a supportive team environment, and the chance to work on groundbreaking projects. The office is located in a prime area of Centurion , offering convenience and a vibrant working atmosphere. We also provide subsidized meals and regular team-building events to foster a strong company culture within Gauteng .