Lead VFX Artist - New Midcore Game Team

Position Overview

Are you a passionate game developer with a pioneering mindset? Do you thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments and love the thrill of creating something new? If so, Zynga, one of the largest and most innovative mobile game development studios, invites you to join our cutting-edge Mid-Core Game Division for an unannounced new game.

At Zynga’s Mid-Core Division, we craft a diverse array of captivating mobile games enjoyed by millions around the globe. Now, we're forging new ground with an exciting 3D action game and seeking talented, self-starting developers to help us bring this vision to life. This is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to join a team of highly skilled, diverse professionals who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming.

In the role of Lead VFX Artist, you'll leverage your wide range of skills to create engaging, high-quality gaming experiences. You'll collaborate with innovative Directors, Animators, and Engineers in a supportive environment that values creativity, initiative, and diverse perspectives. If you're ready to take on new challenges and be a part of something groundbreaking, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future of mid-core mobile gaming.

Main Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Art and Engineering teams to construct and implement particle systems, UV based animations, and shader VFX in Unity.
• Enforce optimal performance and efficiency of the game’s final visual assets
• Work with animators and concept artists to visually develop the look and feel of the game VFX.
• Work effectively to tackle any VFX and sorting-related bugs.
• Research and understand the style of the IP.
• Create materials/shaders to achieve unique styles and hit amazing visual quality.
• Create, maintain, and communicate VFX art guidelines and implementation techniques with other team members.
• Follow defined and optimized work flows.
• Our ideal candidate is a great communicator, teammate, and proactive problem solver. You draw from a range of skills to creatively determine solutions. You are a contributor of ideas, overseer of pipelines, and collaborator across subject area lines providing expertise and seeking out potential issues before they become problems

Desired Skills and Experience

• 3-5+ years of experience with Battle Royale, Moba, or Shooter style VFX
• Effective communication with team members of varying fields including written documentation of pipeline processes
• 5+ years of experience with Unity and/or other engines
• 2-3+ years in a Lead or Manager position
• Understanding of optimizing 3D and 2D VFX assets for memory and performance considerations
• Intermediate skills creating high quality VFX particle systems in Unity
• Core Adobe Creative Suite skills
• Technical background in developing scripts, Photoshop actions, and other automation tools vital for art implementation and optimization
• Experience in game development, with shipped titles
• Experience with profiling tools
• Experience with version control software such as Perforce, Git
• Experience writing and modifying shaders is a nice to have
• Knowledge of platform specific development
• Style Range & Flexibility. Be able to create a set of distinctive characteristics that form an art style and maintain consistency throughout shared pieces of art. Be able to shift between different looks quickly for exploration.
• Capable of rapid visualization and able to effectively generate multiple rough storyboards to solve visual design problems.
• Ability to use different texture & UV techniques, workflows and tools to hit a quality benchmark visually and technically.
• Understanding animation fundamentals (timing, rhythm, flow, and movement) when creating VFX.
• Working knowledge of Art Pipelines, Game Engines, Optimization, other game fields, rendering/lighting/materials/scene setup

What we offer you:

• Competitive salary, bonus plan and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• 401K Company Match Contribution (US)
• RRSP/DPSP company match contribution (Canada)
• Health coverage, dental, disability, critical illness, EAP, and life insurance (Canada)
• Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits (US)
• Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
• Global Fitness reimbursement program
• Global Wellbeing Program
• Financial wellness program with unlimited access to certified financial planners
• Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
• Family planning support program
• Generous paid parental, pregnancy-related disability, caregiver, and compassionate leaves
• Subsidized Back-up child care
• Zynga happy hours and frequent employee events
• Flexible working hours on many teams
• Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
• Work with cool people and impact millions of daily players

We are an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to building a diverse and talented workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome job-seekers, players, employees, and partners from all backgrounds to join us!

We will consider all qualified job-seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities in order to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at AccommodationRequest@zynga.com to request an accommodation associated with your application for an open position.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $100,000 and $149,000 per year.

However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.