Staff VFX Artist

About the role

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Staff VFX Artist based in United States. This is an opportunity to shape the visual identity of an ambitious new game world through expressive, high-quality visual effects.

Responsibilities

• Create visually compelling 2D and 3D visual effects in Unreal Engine that support the project's artistic vision and stylized aesthetic.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Art Directors, design leads, and other stakeholders to determine how VFX can strengthen game feel, mechanics, character identity, and player experience.
• Help establish and improve VFX workflows and production tools for assigned areas, following the broader pipeline and direction established by VFX leadership.
• Take ownership of complex VFX, rendering, and technical challenges, developing scalable solutions that can be reused across the project.
• Convert successful technical solutions into reusable systems, workflows, best practices, and documentation that improve team efficiency.
• Review and approve VFX assets to ensure they meet visual quality standards, technical requirements, and the project's stylized art direction.
• Contribute to the evolution of VFX direction within owned areas and provide technical and artistic guidance to other artists.
• Optimize effects for performance and scalability while maintaining the intended visual quality across the game.

Requirements

• 8+ years of professional VFX experience within the video game industry, supported by a portfolio demonstrating high-quality stylized effects and ownership of VFX direction within parts of a project.
• Strong ability to create effects that support both artistic expression and gameplay functionality, with demonstrated expertise in stylization, lighting, and color theory.
• Deep hands-on experience with Unreal Engine and Niagara, including Blueprints, custom material networks, shaders, sprite sheets, post-process effects, and physics simulations such as VAT.
• Strong understanding of rendering pipelines, including forward and deferred rendering, lighting systems, and post-processing techniques.
• Proven ability to optimize VFX and rendering systems for performance and scalability in production game environments.
• Experience with Houdini, Substance Designer, and Maya.
• Experience defining and promoting effective VFX workflows, technical standards, and best practices.
• Strong artistic judgment combined with technical problem-solving skills and an understanding of how VFX contribute to gameplay and player experience.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with creative, art, design, and technical stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and accountable, with the ability to take ownership of complex challenges and help elevate the work of the wider team.

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $152,000–$198,000 USD.
• Competitive overall compensation package with equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with 100% of monthly plan costs covered.
• Short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, with 100% of monthly plan costs covered.
• 401(k) retirement plan through Guideline.
• 10 observed holidays.
• 10 additional days of Winter Break.
• "Take What You Need" PTO policy.
• Remote-friendly working environment.
• Continued investment in benefits and perks designed to support employees' professional and personal well-being.
• Inclusive workplace committed to providing qualified candidates with equal employment opportunities regardless of legally protected characteristics.