Senior VFX Artist II - VR

At Skydance Interactive, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in interactive entertainment. Innovation in game design, technology and storytelling is the passion that drives our agile studio of dedicated and talented game creators. Collaboration across all disciplines is vital to our success and is at the core of the inclusive culture we strive to foster every day.
We empower our employees to take ownership of the features they develop and create their own solutions when challenges arise. As our studio grows, we want to bring even more risk-takers, innovators and diverse voices along for the ride as we continue to create the games that will defy convention and define the future of the medium.
Following the success of our first VR title Archangel, we elevated our ambition and tackled The Walking Dead universe in VR. The result was the 2020 genre-defining hit The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. We are currently working on several highly anticipated VR games for emerging platforms that we can’t wait for you to play.
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We are deep into pre-production on a new, unannounced VR title, and are looking for a Lead VFX Artist to form part of our core team. The Lead Visual Effects Artist will collaborate with the Art Director, Game Director, and Technical Director to develop beautiful VFX content that runs efficiently on VR (Virtual Reality) platforms. They must demonstrate a depth of experience working with other disciplines to get the most out of the game engine and current tools as well as help identify new tools and tech needed to create outstanding VFX. Our goal is nothing less than to push the state of VR’s fidelity, Immersion, gameplay, and storytelling to the next level.

Responsibilities

• Design, create and implement AAA-quality visual effects using particles, animation, materials, sprites, custom shaders, and more
• Work closely with all departments to ensure that art direction, gameplay, and technical requirements are met
• Ensure that VFX are optimized and meet performance requirements
• Keep up to date with recent technologies and industry best practices to help advance the visual quality bar for our products
• Rapidly prototype, iterate and refine ideas based on feedback
• Own and drive VFX needs for the project and expected to accomplish this goal with minimal oversite from the Art Director
• You will be responsible for creating and documenting VFX pipeline under the supervision of the lead TA

Requirements

• 8+ years minimum as a VFX Artist with at least one shipped title on PC, console, or VR platforms
• Contributed to at least one title from pre-production to launch.
• Able to mentor internal and collaborate with external development teams.
• Strong skills with 2D/3D art design software (Maya, Houdini, After Effects, Photoshop, etc)
• Strong understanding of the principles of real-time visual effects, physics, art, animation, and visual design fundamentals (color theory, etc.)
• Ability to author and edit shaders and shader code to create real-time VFX
• Outstanding eye for engaging visuals and a deep understanding of motion, animation, and emotion
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working in Unreal Engine 4 & 5
• Experience with both Cascade & Niagra
• Programming or scripting experience in any language (C++ / Python / HLSL)
• Experience with fluid simulations and rigid-body destruction simulation
• Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, Perforce

The salary range for this position in Los Angeles is $120,000 – $140,000.  The salary offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors.  The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc. 
We realize that skills and expertise can come from many different experiences and paths, and we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements as written in the job description. 
#Interactive #LI-hybrid
Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, interactive, and animation divisions. Skydance is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. We welcome and consider applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy status, military/veteran status, disability, or any other protected category. Diversity in the workplace is not