Senior VFX Artist - Real-time & Cinematic Effects

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid time off

Hybrid work model

Professional growth

Cutting-edge VFX software

Creative studio culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior VFX Artist to join our Benoni studio. Focus on conceptualizing, creating, and implementing stunning real-time and cinematic VFX for games, films, and interactive media.

You will collaborate with art directors and designers, optimize assets for multiple platforms, and mentor junior artists in a hybrid work setup combining remote work and on-site sessions.

Qualifications

• Real-time and/or cinematic VFX portfolio required.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of Houdini, Maya, or 3ds Max.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity VFX systems.
• Hybrid on-site/off-site work ability.

Responsibilities

• Create real-time VFX for games using particle systems and shaders.
• Design cinematic VFX for pre-rendered sequences.
• Collaborate with directors and designers to match artistic vision.
• Optimize VFX assets for multiple platforms.
• Mentor junior VFX artists.
• Develop and implement custom shaders.

Skills

Artistic eye

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics

Tools

Houdini

Maya

3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Niagara

VFX Graph

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic force in the Arts & Entertainment industry, is seeking a highly skilled and creative Senior VFX Artist to join their team in Benoni . This role is essential for conceptualizing, creating, and implementing stunning visual effects for games, films, and other interactive media. You will be responsible for bringing explosive action, magical spells, environmental phenomena, and subtle atmospheric details to life, enhancing the visual spectacle and immersive quality of our projects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of particle systems, simulation techniques, shader development, and real-time rendering pipelines, combined with a keen artistic sensibility. This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for focused individual work remotely and essential collaborative sessions on-site. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages innovation, artistic excellence, and technical mastery in visual effects creation. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your expertise to visually rich and exciting productions, shaping the look and feel of impactful entertainment experiences. Your work will be instrumental in delivering breathtaking moments that captivate audiences and elevate the overall quality of our client's productions.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality real-time visual effects for games using particle systems, shaders, and scripting within engines like Unreal Engine and Unity.
• Design and implement cinematic visual effects for pre-rendered sequences.
• Collaborate with art directors, technical directors, and game designers to achieve the desired artistic vision and performance targets.
• Develop and optimize VFX assets, ensuring they meet technical constraints for various platforms.
• Experiment with new tools and techniques to push the boundaries of visual effects.
• Create custom shaders and textures for unique VFX elements.
• Integrate VFX into game levels and cinematics, ensuring seamless execution.
• Troubleshoot and optimize VFX performance to maintain smooth frame rates and efficient memory usage.
• Mentor and guide junior VFX artists, providing feedback and technical support.
• Maintain a strong understanding of physics, fluid dynamics, and motion for realistic effect creation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Animation, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in VFX art, with a significant portfolio demonstrating real-time and/or cinematic effects.
• Proficiency in industry-standard VFX software (e.g., Houdini, Maya, 3ds Max).\
• Expertise in game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, including their VFX systems (e.g., Niagara, VFX Graph).
• Strong understanding of particle systems, simulations, and material/shader creation.
• Experience with texture creation and animation for VFX.
• Excellent artistic eye, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid remote/on-site environment.
• Passion for visual effects and creating stunning digital imagery.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and skill set.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility and collaborative opportunities.
• Opportunities for professional growth and skill development.
• Access to cutting-edge VFX software and hardware.
• Work on exciting, visually impactful projects in the Arts & Entertainment industry.
• Retirement savings plan.
• A creative and collaborative studio culture in Benoni .
• Potential for project-based bonuses.