Lead VFX Artist

• Raise the bar and help the studio remain an industry leader in visual effects
• Collaborate with the Art Director and team leaders to define and build the VFX look and style for projects
• Work with Project Leads and Producers on task scheduling, time estimates, and resource planning
• Run team reviews, provide constructive feedback, and maintain a cohesive, polished vision
• Create in-engine visual benchmarks and gather references that reinforce project vision and set goals for the VFX team
• Create, promote, and uphold best practices for VFX systems and asset creation
• Mentor and guide the VFX team and contribute to peer reviews
• Participate in recruitment activities, including portfolio reviews and interviews
• Create a wide range of VFX for original and existing IP game properties
• Research visual-effects techniques and workflows to keep Velan at the cutting edge
• Help solve complex technical content-implementation problems and brainstorm solutions
• Collaborate with art disciplines, engineers, designers, and QA to deliver high-quality assets supporting gameplay goals
• Document systems and processes for project and studio content creators
• Apply modern artistic toolsets and AAA game-engine experience
• Work within performance budgets and optimize real-time VFX
• Represent the VFX discipline in interdisciplinary discussions about scope, planning, tools, features, and team updates
• Support hiring, performance assessment, mentoring, and career development of additional artists as projects mature

• 10+ years of game industry real-time VFX experience on console and/or PC platforms
• Strong portfolio of shipped games
• Degree or equivalent experience in Digital Media Design, Game Design, or related field is desired
• Ability to create from your own ideas, not just from pre-existing concept art
• Demonstrated strength in custom texture and shader creation
• High proficiency with DCCs related to VFX creation, such as Photoshop, Substance Designer, Ember Gen, Maya, Blender, and Houdini
• Excellent technical understanding for deep collaboration with engineering teams and working within hardware platform limits
• Strong organizational skills with adherence to optimization and asset management
• Passion for making and playing great games, with awareness of current titles and industry trends
• Self-direction, passion, and creativity
• Receptiveness to feedback and ability to act successfully on direct critique
• Technical expertise with a node-based VFX system such as PopcornFX v2, Unity’s VFX Graph, or Unreal Engine’s Niagara
• Experience with Ember Gen Elemental Suite
• Experience or skill in an additional discipline such as Tech Art, Concepting, Animation, User Interface, Lighting, or Design

Demonstrates extensive experience in real-time VFX creation for games, with a strong portfolio showcasing shipped titles. Proficient in modern artistic toolsets and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to optimize VFX assets and workflows.

• 10+ Years Real-Time VFX Experience
• Custom Texture and Shader Creation
• High Proficiency with DCCs
• Technical Expertise with Node-Based VFX Systems
• Strong Organizational Skills

• Real-Time VFX Creation
• Custom Texture Creation
• Shader Creation
• Asset Management
• Optimization Techniques
• Visual Effects Techniques
• Game Design
• Digital Media Design
• VFX Benchmarking
• Performance Budgeting

• Self-Direction
• Creativity
• Receptiveness to Feedback
• Collaboration
• Mentoring

• Visual Effects
• Game Industry
• AAA Game Engine
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Performance Assessment
• Portfolio Reviews
• Game Properties
• Technical Art
• Concepting
• User Interface

• Photoshop
• Substance Designer
• Ember Gen
• Maya
• Blender
• Houdini
• PopcornFX v2
• Unity VFX Graph
• Unreal Engine Niagara
• Ember Gen Elemental Suite