Lead VFX Artist

Summary

Join Tripwire Interactive, a leading independent video game developer and publisher, as their Lead VFX Artist. Collaborate with the Art Director and other vision holders to create and implement engaging effects, while defining and managing project technical requirements and asset production. Provide artistic critique and constructive feedback to team members. Proactively identify and solve problems, developing creative solutions to VFX challenges. Create, manage, and optimize VFX assets, ensuring they meet game style and technical requirements. Cultivate an organized workflow and mentor team members to foster their VFX knowledge. Serve as a technical and business resource to other artists and engineers. Contribute to the growth of the VFX group by improving processes and spearheading initiatives. This role offers remote work flexibility and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of applicable game industry experience creating VFX for high-profile games
• Experience leading a team of VFX Artists; interfacing with Art department and Technologists
• Ability to demonstrate extensive experience creating performant Niagara particle systems in UE5
• High level of organizational skills
• Ability to provide constructive feedback
• Exhibited ability to mentor employees at all levels
• Ability to learn and master new software, keeping up with industry standards
• Strong problem solving skills
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Art Director and other project vision holders to create and implement highly engaging effects, while defining and managing project technical requirements and project asset production
• Provide artistic critique and constructive feedback on timing, color theory, VFX principles, and more to team members
• Proactively identify problems, propose solutions, and seek out buy-in from the team regarding implementation strategy
• Develop creative solutions to VFX challenges that don’t have clear answers and work with others until a resolution is found
• Create, manage and optimize VFX assets to complete assets by scheduled deadlines
• Ensure that VFX are optimized in accordance with the approved game style and technical requirements constraints
• Cultivate an organized and disciplined workflow, including documentation for your team’s content
• Create new effects from scratch with strong visuals, functionality, and sense of rhythm that supports gameplay, as well as character interactions with environments
• Establish a scalable VFX pipeline and collaborate with the rest of the development team to make the best game possible
• Identify and communicate all issues that may prevent the VFX team from completing established goals and deadlines to production management
• Review builds at major milestones to make sure the game is on track and meeting expectations; raise risks, if necessary
• Coach team members to foster their VFX knowledge so that they progress in their careers
• Serve as a technical and business resource to other artists and engineers, assisting them in the resolution of complex problems or leading them on larger projects
• Contribute to the growth of the VFX group whether through improving group wide processes or spearheading initiatives around training or sharing their institutionalized knowledge

Preferred Qualifications

• A passion for video games
• Shipped at least one AAA video game title
• Significant Unreal Engine 4 or Unreal Engine 5 experience
• Console development experience with one or more of the follow: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch

Benefits

• Profit Share
• Medical, Dental, & Vision 100% of premiums for the family covered by Tripwire
• Up to 30 days of PTO
• 16 paid Holidays
• Short Term Disability & Long Term Disability
• 401k Match
• Flexible Spending Account
• Flexible Hours
• Employee & Family Team Building Events
• Volunteer Days
• REMOTE (Please note: you must meet the legal requirements to work in the USA, including visas and work permits, if you are not a US Citizen.)