Staff VFX Artist

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.

You will create stylized 2D and 3D VFX that bring characters, environments, mechanics, and moments to life.

Working closely with creative and design leadership, you will help define how effects contribute to game feel, readability, and character identity.

You will take ownership of complex VFX and rendering challenges while developing reusable workflows, tools, and best practices.

Your expertise will also help raise the quality bar across the team through asset reviews, documentation, and technical guidance.

The role combines hands-on artistic creation with technical problem-solving and meaningful influence over the project's visual direction.

It is well suited to an experienced game VFX specialist who thrives in a collaborative, creative, and player-focused environment.

Accountabilities

• 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.
• Ability to define and promote 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.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every listed qualification, provided their experience and capabilities align strongly with the role.

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.