Lead VFX Artist

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Balance hands-on VFX asset creation with day-to-day team leadership and management of the VFX team.
• Partner closely with Principal VFX Artist to plan, create and test content creation and pipelines before deploying to the development team
• Oversee and support external VFX partners, ensuring they are properly onboarded to style and technical standards and that their deliveries meet quality expectations.
• Collaborate with Production Management to scope and estimate work, build schedules, assign tasks and track progress for VFX deliverables.
• Works closely with Art Directors to develop visual targets, maintain a cohesive visual style and consistent quality bar across all aspects in VFX.
• Review VFX artists’ work to ensure VFX content is performant aesthetically and technically that is aligned with Art Direction.
• Collaborate with multiple disciplines to support gameplay, characters, cinematics, environments with VFX requirements.
• Coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure VFX assets are delivered on time and integrated smoothly into the game.
• Works closely with the Tool and Engine team to aid in the ongoing evolution and enhancements of proprietary tools and engine to improve and enhance VFX fidelity.
• Champion and implement new production methods, best practices, and optimizations to improve efficiency and in-game performance.
• Ensures that all complaints and concerns related to inappropriate or unprofessional conduct in the workplace are addressed immediately to foster a safe work environment.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of VFX artists, including consistent quality bar, goal‑setting and performance reviews.
• Other duties may apply

Supervisory Duties:

• This job has supervisory responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems

Computer Skills:

• Advanced level in Houdini and Maya: expert understanding of these DCC visual effects packages, competent working with joints and locators, animation/keyframing, rigid-body and fluid simulations, materials, shaders, lighting and rendering.
• 3d modeling and procedural modeling/UV’ing skills are a must.
• Strong knowledge and experience with modern game engines/editors such as Unreal, Unity, proprietary, etc.
• Proficient with real-time particle-editors and VFX systems such as Unreal’s Niagara, PopcornFX, etc.