Senior Technical Artist - VFX

Keywords Studios Australia, consists of Wicked Workshop (Vic), Tantalus Media (SA, Qld, Vic), and Mighty Games. In 2023 we added over 70 new, talented individuals surpassing 250 employees in Australia. We're anticipating similar growth for 2024. Whilst we're backed by a highly successful parent company, we still enjoy the intimacy and independent studio feels. If you're a passionate, collaborative, can-do, delivery focused individual, we'd love to hear from you. 

Our Tantalus Studio is located in Fitzroy and employs some of the best talent in video games. With over fourty team members, 2024 will see us continue to add to this high achieving, quality driven, fun loving team. Experienced professionals with prior experience in shipping AAA games across Console, PC, we're keen to speak with you. 

Tantalus Melbourne are looking for a Senior Technical Artist specializing in VFX and shaders, to join our Studio. 

As a  Senior Technical Artist (VFX), your role is to craft and integrate dynamic real-time visual effects, help improve technical pipelines, workflows and VFX creation techniques / tools, and support overall art creation and optimization.

Responsibilities 

• Create or re-invent VFX and shaders. 
• Confidently communicate with other disciplines, including art, design and engineering, to facilitate solutions that push the project forward. 
• Support art content production by advancing art pipelines, workflows and methodologies. 
• Develop tools and processes that facilitate content authoring with an emphasis on user experience, quality and productivity. 
• Asset optimisation, integration, performance profiling and validation. 
• Collaborate with other Technical Artists to maintain and further improve on project / studio tools and workflows. 
• Create and maintain technical documentation. 
• Assist with asset creation or re-invention in domains outside your area of expertise if needed. 

Expectations 

• Proactively identify problems and propose, test and document solutions. 
• Research and explore new technologies and techniques and keep up-to-date with the latest trends in game development. 
• Share learnings and best practices, workflows and new tools with the wider team. 
• Be available for technical support for the art and animation team. 
• Actively demonstrate a desire to learn and grow professionally. 
• Contribute towards a positive and supportive company culture. 

Requirements 

• Approx. 6+ years of Games Industry experience (Senior). 
• Experience in art and animation content creation. 
• Strong attention to detail, able to multi-task and adapt to change. 
• Artistic eye and solid understanding of art pipeline. 
• Proficiency in scripting and coding in one or more of the following - Python, C#, C++, HLSL, MEL, MaxScript. 
• Knowledge of industry DCC packages – Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, Adobe Suite – with strong foundational knowledge in at least one. 
• Knowledge of relevant development packages - Houdini, Embergen, Aftereffects or Substance suite - advanced skills in at least one
• Current development experience with Unity, UE4 or UE5. 
• Skills and interest in - Shader development, Pipeline and tool development, VFX / Particles, Real-time physics simulations. 
• A passion for games, an interest and awareness in the latest trends, tools, technology and approaches in creating content. 
• Strong time management and problem-solving skills. 
• Effective communication skills. 

Bonus Skills 

• Skills and interest in one or more areas - Character rigging, Procedural asset generation, Lighting, Real-time rendering and post-effects, Asset optimisation and performance profiling. 
• Experience in AAA game development. 
• Familiarity with Maya API. 
• Experience with console development – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. 
• Traditional art / drawing / painting / photography skills. 

• Competitive Market Rate Remuneration. 
• Employee Assistance Program. 
• We offer a range of flexible working arrangements including - full-time, compressed week, and hybrid work. 
• Benefits and discounts through our employee portal, Employment Hero. 
• Best of both worlds - perks of a global business with the intimacy of a small business. 
• Opportunity to work on a diverse range of next generation games and collaborate with some of the best in the industry. 
• Wellbeing reimbursement for purchases relating to your health. 

Our recruitment process typically consists of an initial review of your application and if suitable followed with a Teams or Phone interview. For those selected to progress further it may include an online assessment, and two interviews which can be conducted onsite or remote. 

All applications will be responded to within five to ten business days where possible. For those who make it to interview stage, feedback will also be provided.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our candidate experience, we do randomly select individuals to participate in a very short, anonymous, survey. Your feedback is important to us and we appreciate your time providing this. 

Should you wish to discuss Keywords Studios and our opportunities prior to making an application please feel free to call our Head of Talent Acquisition, Stan Rolfe on +61 416 048 976. Leave a message and he'll return your call as soon as possible. Please note Stan is based in Perth, Western Australia. 

Role Information: EN

Studio: Tantalus

Location: APAC, Australia, Adelaide

Area of Work: Art services

Service: Create

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time, Hybrid