Senior VFX Artist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, vision insurance

Generous annual bonus

Flexible hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Retirement savings plan

Ample paid time off

Stellenbosch studio environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior VFX Artist for a hybrid role in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will craft cutting-edge real-time VFX for games, leveraging Houdini, Unreal, Unity, and other tools to deliver performance-optimized effects. Collaboration with designers, artists, and programmers is essential to integrate visuals with gameplay.

The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio, deep knowledge of particle systems and shaders, and a passion for stunning, immersive visuals across platforms.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a VFX Artist in games with a strong portfolio.
• Proficiency in particle systems, shaders, and real-time rendering.
• Ability to optimize VFX for performance across platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-quality VFX for games and interactive media.
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, and technical artists to achieve visual style.
• Optimize VFX assets for performance and memory usage.
• Develop VFX pipelines and workflows for efficiency and consistency.
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to VFX implementation.
• Stay updated on real-time VFX trends and best practices.
• Provide guidance to junior VFX artists.
• Create concept art and storyboards for complex sequences.
• Ensure VFX communicates gameplay information effectively.
• Contribute to hybrid studio work in Stellenbosch.

Skills

Particle systems

Shaders

Real-time rendering

Python

HLSL

Timing & color

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics or related field

Tools

Houdini

Niagara (Unreal Engine)

Unreal Engine

Unity Particle System

Maya

Blender

Substance Painter

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning game studio celebrated for its visually spectacular titles, is looking for a highly skilled Senior VFX Artist to enhance their creative team. This role is central to bringing dynamic visual effects to life, from explosive action sequences to magical spells and atmospheric environmental effects. You will leverage cutting-edge tools and techniques to craft stunning, performance-optimized visual effects that elevate the player experience. The position requires a blend of artistic talent and technical proficiency, with a strong understanding of particle systems, shaders, and real-time engine integration. This is a hybrid role, offering the best of both worlds: collaborative team interaction within our state-of-the-art studio in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA , and the flexibility of remote workdays. You will collaborate closely with designers, animators, and programmers to ensure VFX seamlessly integrate with gameplay and narrative.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, create, and implement high-quality visual effects (VFX) for games and interactive media.
• Utilize particle systems, shaders, and material editors to generate realistic and stylized effects.
• Collaborate with art directors, game designers, and technical artists to define and achieve the desired visual style and technical requirements for VFX.
• Optimize VFX assets for performance across various platforms, ensuring smooth frame rates and minimal memory usage.
• Develop and maintain VFX pipelines and workflows, ensuring efficiency and consistency.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to VFX implementation.
• Stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in real-time VFX.
• Provide guidance and feedback to junior VFX artists.
• Create concept art and storyboards for complex visual effect sequences.
• Ensure VFX effectively communicate gameplay information and enhance the overall player experience.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience as a VFX Artist in the game industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing expertise in real-time VFX.
• Proficiency in industry-standard VFX creation tools (e.g., Houdini, Niagara for Unreal Engine, Unity's Particle System).
• Experience with 3D modeling, texturing, and animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender, Substance Painter).
• Strong understanding of particle systems, shaders, scripting (e.g., Python, HLSL), and real-time rendering principles.
• Ability to optimize VFX for performance while maintaining high visual fidelity.
• Excellent artistic eye for timing, color, and composition.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a hybrid team environment.
• Experience working with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A passion for creating visually stunning and impactful real-time effects.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, and a generous annual bonus.
• Employees benefit from a creative and collaborative studio environment, along with a flexible hybrid work arrangement.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attending industry conferences and specialized training, are readily available.
• We also offer a retirement savings plan and ample paid time off.
• Join our innovative team and help shape the future of visual effects in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA .