Lead VFX Artist

Insomniac Games is searching for a Lead Visual Effects Artist. The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the knowledge and experience of creating art assets and sets an example for the team by demonstrating a mastery of industry standards and tools, proprietary technology, and departmental production workflows. Has a proven understanding of production schedules and project goals, along with game performance, and technical considerations.

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.

• Advance understanding of complex node-based shader networks such as those used in Unreal, Unity, etc.

• Familiarity with game scripting and/or node-based systems (e.g. Unreal Blueprint, etc).

• Have strong grasp of technical scripting, programming and expressions pertaining to DCC and graphics: e.g. MEL, Python, Houdini VEX, HLSL Shaders, etc.

• Proficient in Photoshop for painting and editing textures.

• Strong knowledge of procedural texture generation software (e.g. Substance Designer, Filter-Forge, After-Effects, etc).

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

• Knowledge of other visual effects or CG software a plus (e.g. Blender, Nuke, etc).

If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please submit your application below.