Technical Artist (Maps)

At Turtle Rock, we make the games we want to play. We're dedicated to providing a collaborative environment where our team members feel empowered with the creative freedom to contribute and grow. While we are based in Orange County, CA, we support flexible work arrangements ranging from in-studio, hybrid, to fully remote throughout North America. Join our award-winning game development team and help create our next AAA title.

We are seeking a highly skilled Technical Artist with a passion for pushing the boundaries of real-time performance and destruction systems to join our AAA development team. In this role, you will be instrumental in bridging the gap between art and engineering—ensuring our expansive worlds run smoothly while delivering visually compelling, interactive, and destructible environments.

You will work directly with environment artists, level designers, and engineers to develop tools, pipelines, and workflows that enhance map performance and support dynamic destruction systems, all within Unreal Engine 5.

Responsibilities

• Optimize large-scale game maps for performance across multiple platforms (including next-gen consoles and PC)
• Implement and refine destruction workflows and systems using UE5's tools like Chaos Destruction
• Collaborate closely with Environment Art and Level Design teams to ensure visual quality does not compromise performance
• Develop profiling tools, debug workflows, and performance visualizations to identify and address bottlenecks
• Support Level Streaming, LODs, HLODs, Nanite, and World Partition systems to maintain optimal memory and frame performance
• Assist in procedural generation workflows and shader/material optimization related to destruction and map visuals
• Advocate and implement best practices for performance, destruction systems, and scalable art content
• Collaborate with engineering and rendering teams to develop and test new destruction and optimization features
• Playtest with both the studio and the respective teams to review and iterate on Maps' performance

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience as a Technical Artist in AAA game development
• Deep understanding of Unreal Engine 5, especially Nanite, Lumen, World Partition, and Chaos Destruction
• Strong experience optimizing environments and interactive maps for performance and memory
• Proficient in Blueprint scripting, material/shader creation, and working with Profiling Tools (e.g., Unreal Insights, RenderDoc)
• Experience with version control systems such as Perforce
• Familiarity with DCC tools like Houdini, Maya, or Blender in a real-time pipeline
• Knowledge of Python or other scripting languages for pipeline automation.
• Solid grasp of 3D math, physics principles, and performance bottlenecks in real-time engines
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with environment artists, engineers, and designers
• A strong portfolio showcasing technical art work related to map optimization, environment performance, and/or destruction systems in Unreal Engine
• Passion for gameplay destruction, environmental storytelling, and pushing the limits of interactivity in game worlds
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills

Preferences

• Experience shipping at least one AAA title using Unreal Engine (preferably UE5).

Benefits

Some of the benefits and perks our employees get to enjoy, include:

• 100% Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage for you and your family
• 401k Matching
• Student Loan Repayment Plan / College Savings Plan
• Career Improvement Plan
• Flexible Work Arrangements - In-House, Hybrid, and Remote
• Generous Time Off Policy
• Company Events - In-Person + Virtual Events
• Fully Stocked Kitchen + Sponsored Food Trucks

The estimated base pay range for this role is: $85,000 to $120,000 USD

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.