Senior VFX Artist (Gameplay)

VFX Developer

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is made up of passionate players who advance the art & science of game development through great stories, great gameplay, and advanced technology. We are focused on bringing next generation experiences to gamers who want to enjoy them anywhere, anytime, across multiple genres and devices.

What the Role Entails

• Collaborate with the Art Director on the visual style of effects in the game, through verbal and written communication, concepts, or reference images/videos.
• Able to demonstrate strong communication skills within and across departments.
• Create optimized and performant visual effects for real-time rendering within a PBR environment using Unreal Engine.
• Create weather, atmospheric, and ambient environment effects using Niagara and other Unreal tools.
• Create effects required for gameplay like impact decals, explosions, muzzle flashes and other related weapons and breakable effects in using various systems in Unreal Engine.
• Create Post Process, Materials, Blueprints, etc. in Unreal Engine.
• Demonstrate a strong eye for lighting details, and the capability to use them in crafting top notch visual effects that support gameplay and cinematography.
• Understanding of best real-time practices, pipelines and workflows.
• Collaborate with Engineers and Tech Art to create and/or modify pipelines.
• Troubleshoot technical and workflow issues.

Who We Look For

• 7+ years of VFX development experience.
• Autonomous and have the ability to communicate to get tasks to the finish line.
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine's tool and pipelines like Niagara, Materials, Post Process, and Blueprints.
• Strong working knowledge of particle driven effects.
• Strong knowledge of node-based shaders and their creation.
• Experience creating realistic simulations using Houdini and other simulation packages then making them into Unreal Assets.
• Strong knowledge of Photoshop and AfterEffects for texture creation.
• Keen artistic eye and exceptional attention to detail.
• Used to fast paced moving production and making adjustments along the way.
• The capability to view visual reference of an effect, deconstruct it and then re-create it in a real-time game engine is vital.
• Good understanding of and appreciation for milestones, schedules, deadlines, and efficient game development processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of CGFX and/or HLSL shader languages.
• Texturing, modeling, skinning, animation, or lighting experience is a plus.
• Substance Painter & Designer experience.
• Knowledge of MEL/Python/VEX. And Houdini.

Location State(s): US-California-Los Angeles

The expected base pay range for this position in the location(s) listed above is $110,000.00 to $207,200.00 per year. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Employees hired for this position may be eligible for a sign on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Subject to the terms and conditions of the plans in effect, hired applicants are also eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, and participation in the Company's 401(k) plan. The Employee is also eligible for up to 15 to 25 days of vacation per year (depending on the employee's tenure), up to 13 days of holidays throughout the calendar year, and up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year. Your benefits may be adjusted to reflect your location, employment status, duration of employment with the company, and position level. Benefits may also be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.