Senior Technical Artist

People Can Fly is a leading AAA game development studio. This hybrid role requires a Senior Technical Artist with strong rigging knowledge and Python scripting skills to support cross-discipline pipelines. The role involves writing robust Maya/Mobu tools, interfacing with stakeholders, and proactively identifying risks. The artist will maintain artistic direction, create materials, develop efficient workflows, research new techniques, and collaborate with various teams to ensure asset quality and performance across platforms. Mentoring other artists and supporting new hires are also part of the responsibilities.

Must Have

• Hybrid role between artist and tech animator, requiring rigging knowledge and Python scripting.
• Must write robust Maya/Mobu tools/scripts and directly support cross-discipline pipelines.
• Expected to interface frequently with stakeholders, guiding conversations around rigging, shaders, and workflows.
• Proactive in surfacing risks and raising solutions early.
• Needs to thrive in a tool-driven environment where automation, reusability, and scale are essential.
• Strong communication required: must validate pipelines directly in game builds without hand-holding.
• Should be comfortable balancing quality with scalability across archetypes and legacy asset conversion.
• Maintain artistic direction and quality across materials, shaders, and assets.
• Create final materials for characters, environments, and effects; support existing material systems.
• Develop efficient workflows and pipelines to support art and design teams.
• Research and implement new techniques to improve quality and performance of assets.
• Collaborate closely with Art, Animation, Design, and Engineering to resolve pipeline and asset issues.
• Propose tools and automation pipelines for iteration, optimization, and procedural workflows.
• Debug and profile assets to ensure performance across platforms.
• Provide technical feedback, documentation, and mentoring for other artists.
• Strong portfolio showcasing AAA-quality work in engine (proprietary, Unreal, or Unity).
• Excellent knowledge of industry-standard DCC tools (Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop, or equivalents).
• Proficiency in Python scripting (PyQt/PySide), with ability to write clean, reusable, maintainable code.
• Comfortable building new Maya/engine plug-ins, writing extensible pipelines, and bridging legacy → modern formats.
• Supports automation in retargeting, material rebaking, tessellation, and mesh optimization pipelines.
• Acts as a mentor: instills best practices in clean code, data hygiene, and scalable workflows.
• Enthusiastic about modern rendering techniques and procedural workflows; comfortable debugging shaders, inheritance, and profiling runtime.
• Good knowledge of shader languages (HLSL/GLSL) and rendering techniques.
• Understanding of 3D math, topology best practices, PBR workflows, and optimization strategies.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• 5+ years industry experience with at least one shipped title.

Good to Have

• Experience with Houdini, MotionBuilder, or other procedural tools.
• Familiarity with C++ and Maya/OpenMaya plugin development.
• Knowledge of modern rendering pipelines, particle systems, cloth/physics simulations, and lighting.

Perks & Benefits

• Benefit package 100% paid by PCF.
• Full Dental coverage, including major dental.
• 4% RRSP matching before tax deductions, 100% vested on day 1.
• Paid week off during Winter Holidays.
• 20 paid vacation days and 5 paid sick days.
• Free virtual health and mental well-being sessions are included in the plan for members and their dependents.
• Personal development opportunities and ability to work in a global environment.
• Work in a creative team with people full of passion for what they do.

Company Description

People Can Fly is one of the leading independent AAA game development studios. Our international team consists of hundreds of talented individuals working from offices in Poland, the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada, as well as remotely across the globe.

Founded in 2002, we made our mark on the shooter genre with titles such as Painkiller, Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment, and Outriders. As one of the most experienced Unreal Engine studios in the industry, we continue to expand on our expertise and push the boundaries of what’s possible in game development.

Our creative teams are currently working on several exciting titles: Gears of War: E-Day developed in collaboration with Microsoft; Project Echo for KRAFTON; and Lost Rift, an original IP we are developing in-house under our self-publishing model. We are also exploring new platforms and experiences with VR and other unannounced projects.

With over 20 years of experience, PCF continues to explore new horizons. We aim to combine our expertise with the creativity of the best and most forward-thinking talent in the industry, building the next generation of action games for players worldwide.

If you join us on this journey, you’ll have the chance to perfect your craft, expand your knowledge, and work alongside industry leaders to create unique, unforgettable experiences for gamers everywhere.

Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Hybrid role between artist and tech animator, requiring rigging knowledge and Python scripting.
• Must write robust Maya/Mobu tools/scripts and directly support cross-discipline pipelines.
• Expected to interface frequently with stakeholders, guiding conversations around rigging, shaders, and workflows. Proactive in surfacing risks and raising solutions early.
• Needs to thrive in a tool-driven environment where automation, reusability, and scale are essential.
• Strong communication required: must validate pipelines directly in game builds without hand-holding.
• Should be comfortable balancing quality with scalability across archetypes and legacy asset conversion
• Maintain artistic direction and quality across materials, shaders, and assets.
• Create final materials for characters, environments, and effects; support existing material systems.
• Develop efficient workflows and pipelines to support art and design teams.
• Research and implement new techniques to improve quality and performance of assets.
• Collaborate closely with Art, Animation, Design, and Engineering to resolve pipeline and asset issues.
• Propose tools and automation pipelines for iteration, optimization, and procedural workflows.
• Debug and profile assets to ensure performance across platforms.
• Provide technical feedback, documentation, and mentoring for other artists.
• Occasionally support onboarding of new hires.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showcasing AAA-quality work in engine (proprietary, Unreal, or Unity).
• Excellent knowledge of industry-standard DCC tools (Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop, or equivalents).
• Proficiency in Python scripting (PyQt/PySide), with ability to write clean, reusable, maintainable code.
• Comfortable building new Maya/engine plug-ins, writing extensible pipelines, and bridging legacy → modern formats.
• Supports automation in retargeting, material rebaking, tessellation, and mesh optimization pipelines.
• Acts as a mentor: instills best practices in clean code, data hygiene, and scalable workflows.
• Enthusiastic about modern rendering techniques and procedural workflows; comfortable debugging shaders, inheritance, and profiling runtime.
• Good knowledge of shader languages (HLSL/GLSL) and rendering techniques.
• Understanding of 3D math, topology best practices, PBR workflows, and optimization strategies.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• 5+ years industry experience with at least one shipped title.

Preferred

• Experience with Houdini, MotionBuilder, or other procedural tools.
• Familiarity with C++ and Maya/OpenMaya plugin development.
• Knowledge of modern rendering pipelines, particle systems, cloth/physics simulations, and lighting.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• Benefit package 100% paid by PCF. The insurance company reimburses 100% of claims (Up to $1000 per service a year, as well as individual family coverage).
• Full Dental coverage, including major dental.
• 4% RRSP matching before tax deductions, 100% vested on day 1.
• Paid week off during Winter Holidays.
• 20 paid vacation days and 5 paid sick days.
• Free virtual health and mental well-being sessions are included in the plan for members and their dependents.
• Personal development opportunities and ability to work in a global environment.
• Work in a creative team with people full of passion for what they do.