Jobs and Careers

Senior Technical Artist

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 7 Nov 2024

About the role

Blind Squirrel Games (BSG) is a proud, independent studio that joins forces with developers and publishers seeking an innovative partner in creating quality games. At BSG, people are our purpose, so we prioritize an inquisitive, proactive, and collaborative work environment for all our squirrels. We operate as a hybrid-remote studio and currently have locations in Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; and Auckland, New Zealand. Skills and experience are highly valued at BSG, but we recognize that talent is a product of hard-work, resilience, and a growth-mindset. We champion individuals who have demonstrated they have the grit to overcome challenges and subscribe to the notion that inclusion breeds synergy and innovation. To us, diversity isn't a metric—it's a must! Senior Technical Artists at BSG... You have a deep understanding of the technical art pipeline, complemented by a refined skillset, honed through experience on numerous AAA titles. You're recognized as a dependable developer with the insight to know when to seek feedback. You welcome challenges, setting high standards for yourself and delivering high-quality work consistently.While your influence is vital to the department's success and you provide mentorship to junior developers, creating and implementing technical art assets remains your core focus. You excel in independent work but also value collaboration through teamwork. CompensationThe salary range for this role is $107,000-$130,000, applicable to Southern California. Actual compensation will vary based on experience, performance, and location. This range does not apply to locations outside the United States. Location We are open to candidates interested in onsite, hybrid, or remote work arrangements. Role and Responsibilities Blind Squirrel Games (BSG) is looking for a is looking for a Senior Technical Artist to join us for an upcoming project. Supported by the Art Director and Project Leads, the Senior Technical Artist will collaborate closely with artists, designers, and engineers to solve technical challenges, contribute to content creation, and ensure the seamless integration of art assets within the game engine. As a Senior Technical Artist at BSG, you will contribute to the project by developing and optimizing art assets and ensuring their seamless integration within the game engine.The ideal candidate for this role has experience in writing shaders and tools for AAA games and can translate a thorough understanding of both into consistent deliverables that optimize pipelines and meet project expectations. Responsibilities

Create and modify shaders using HLSL scripting.
Develop and implement custom materials using node-based systems.
Develop custom scripts and tools for automating tasks and writing shaders.
Integrate environment assets and effects into game engines, troubleshoot integration issues, and optimize performance.
Manage and organize art assets within database systems, ensuring proper version control and backup.
Analyze performance metrics, profile GPU and CPU performance, and optimize rendering pipelines.
Collaborate with production to maintain a clear and realistic schedule.
Work directly with other artists, designers, and engineers to complete environments.
Document technical art pipelines, workflows, and best practices for reference and training purposes.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

4+ years of industry experience in game development specializing in technical art.
At least two shipped titles as a Technical Artist.
Portfolio demonstrating ability to design and implement technical art assets and solutions.

Preferred Skills

Proactive communication and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent leadership and mentoring skills.
In-depth knowledge of art pipelines, dependencies, and project scope.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Advanced proficiency in Maya, Photoshop, Substance Designer/Painter, and Zbrush.
Strong foundational skills in composition, design, structure, silhouette, and color theory.