Lead VFX Artist

Description

Arkane Studios is looking for a Lead VFX Artist to join our team! The Lead VFX Artist establishes the quality and visual consistency, by maintaining high visual standards for the team. The ideal candidate has an understanding of memory and frame budgets, production schedule and project goals, animation, programming and design concerns, understands PBR lighting basics and material authoring.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Art Director to set the art style and visual standard for the team by the creation of art assets, a mastery of internal technology and tools pipeline and departmental production dependencies
• Create pre-visualization concepts by any means necessary to establish the visual effects direction
• Research and analyze current and emerging visual effect trends and technology and collect reference materials that support the visual quality and style for the VFX team
• Create clear and accurate technical writing and documentation regarding VFX production and use by other artists
• Work closely with the graphic engineering team to develop new or improve upon old technologies to improve visual effect quality
• Collaborate with the level design and gameplay teams to create visual effects that support gameplay systems
• Handle all aspects of the VFX pipeline, which includes creating content from concept to final polished result
• Work with the Production team to maintain a clear and consistent schedule
• Supervise bug distribution and verify bug fixes

• 5+ years’ experience in video games as a lead or visual effects artist
• Experience with real-time VFX authoring tools
• Expert understanding of Maya or other 3D package for creating 3D assets
• Strong knowledge of Photoshop and After Effects
• Experienced with PBR engines like idTech, CryEngine, Unreal, or Unity
• Critical eye for timing and motion in relation to real world physical behaviors
• Understanding of VFX asset costs and impact on console performance
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, driven to create top quality visuals
• Shipped at least 2 AAA title in a senior/lead role
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative development environment
• Excellent communication, organizational and time management skills
• Provide team performance evaluations
• Demo reel required

Desired Skills:

• Very strong problem-solving skills for technically challenging tasks
• Experience developing first-person shooter (FPS) games and/or immersive-sims
• Experience with fluid dynamics simulation software, such as Houdini and FumeFX, for fire, fluid, and soft/rigid body dynamics
• Bachelor's degree in Art, Animation, or Game Development