Principal VFX Artist

What You’ll Do Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world‑class environment, character, and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire. In this Role, You Will Drive VFX systems and quality, design reusable, scalable solutions that support rapid iteration and long‑term production across gameplay, cosmetics, and arena systems Author outstanding real‑time effects across a range of styles, from grounded and physical to high‑energy and stylized Collaborate with Tech Art and Programming to define performance budgets and hit them without sacrificing visual quality Prototype and validate new VFX workflows Set the quality bar, defining what "good" looks like for the team Mentor and elevate artists across disciplines; raise the floor and the ceiling What We’re Looking For Real‑time FX portfolio required; shipped titles carry more weight than student work Deep proficiency with Niagara and Unreal Engine’s material system Shader authoring experience (HLSL or Material Editor) Scripting experience—Python, Blueprint, or equivalent; this separates a technical FX artist from a visual one Strong understanding of GPU performance—draw calls, particle costs, memory—and a track record of optimizing without killing the look A critical eye for timing, weight, and motion grounded in how things actually behave in the real world Experience shipping multiple titles in the game industry Experience on a live‑service game is a strong plus Houdini experience is a plus for candidates who work from simulation reference This role is open to multiple locations in North America (including CA & WA). Pay Transparency Information The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren’t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs). California Base Pay Range: $200,423—$293,954 USD Washington Base Pay Range: $182,204—$267,232 USD Equal Employment Opportunity Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr