Principal VFX Artist

Who We Are: 

Founded by an MMO legend who has led AAA teams for over 20 years, our new studio Fantastic Pixel Castle (FPC) is building an original fantasy IP from scratch. Players will be regularly engaged in our development process from early stages as part of our open and transparent studio culture, and we aim to craft an IP that will be worthy of their passion and dedication for decades to come. 

We are committed to being a fully remote and global studio, so that we can hire world-class people and have them live their best lives. We think top-heavy bureaucracy stifles creativity, so we aim to stay small as we focus on delivering a game and a world that players will love. We are fully-funded, and the team will share in all of our studio's successes. We're seeking talented teammates to join us in our journey so we encourage you to apply if you're interested, even if you're not sure you check all the boxes.

Position Overview:

Are you a Principal VFX Artist that can breathe life into a new fantastical world of mystical creatures, iconic heroes, and unforgettable environments? As the initial Principal VFX Artist at FPC, you will work closely with the Art Director, Designers, Animators, and Engineers to create extraordinary gameplay experiences that will help lay the path for our creative vision. You'll spearhead the creation of amazing hand-crafted visual effects and help refine and shape the game's artistic direction by blending technical skill with boundless imagination. This role is for those ready to contribute across the board and wear a variety of hats in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment. You will help set standards, define best practices, and execute at the highest levels, creating best-in-class game VFX for our upcoming MMO, codenamed GHOST.

Principal VFX Artist Responsibilities:

• This is a hands-on role where you’ll be the initial artist that will drive the creation of subtly-stylized, high-quality, visually compelling VFX that helps define the mood of the game and drives the moment-to-moment experience of GHOST
• Collaborate with the Art Director and Gameplay Team to establish and refine the overall look and style of the game’s visual effects, while enhancing the feel of combat, traversal, and more
• Create stunning visual effects that push industry standards for quality, speed, moment to moment readability, and performance
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of color, design, form, and motion within Unreal to ensure that your visual effects immerse players into the memorable encounters and experiences in the worlds of GHOST 
• Set the standards and best practices for visual effects to ensure asset libraries are organized, optimal, and efficient for internal and external contributors and collaborators

Requirements:

• 12+ years of experience in AAA VFX for games
• Proven experience in VFX creation role on a AAA game with a stellar portfolio showcasing best-in-class hand-crafted visual effects
• Proven ability to foster strong and transparent communication channels with internal artists and external partners, providing clear feedback, guidance, and support
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional artistic taste, showcasing shipped AAA titles or other relevant projects
• Ability to create high-fidelity visual effects simulations and turn them into performant game assets
• Experience solving complex pipeline problems and collaborating with engineers and tech artists

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding and practical experience with next-generation visual effects creation workflows in Unreal
• Passion for gaming (especially MMOs), with an awareness of current industry trends and an understanding of player expectations
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, able to adapt quickly to new technologies, workflows, and ideas
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring other artists
• History developing and maintaining end-to-end documentation for internal artists and external partners for the creation of a variety of assets

US Salary Band: $113,000 - 205,000 USD 

Canada Salary Band: $86,000 - 146,000 CAD 

We're always on the lookout for talented folks. Go ahead and apply, even if you're not sure you check all the boxes. Our Talent team will review your application and contact you if there is a potential fit.