Senior Technical Artist

Role OverviewThis role first and foremost bridges art and engineering, building the asset pipeline that gets an external data source into our game as efficiently as possible while delivering high-end visual fidelity with Unreal Engine within constraints.You are accountable for the pipeline that brings external data into our game cleanly and efficiently, and to make sure the game looks its best where that matters most whilst staying within technical constraints.You are a proactive hands-on tech artist who picks up new technology quickly and works ahead of problems rather than reacting to them to ensure technical art issues get caught early. You will work closely with the team in assisting with the technical implementation and management of in-house and outsourced assets.Key Responsibilities1 - Asset PipelinesYou design and build the pipeline that takes an external data source and places it into the game in the most efficient way possible. As the amount of updates in the game grows, you keep the pipeline steady and clear of any snags that slow down the time from source to player.You use emerging tools as a practical aid, writing scripts, automating repetitive jobs, and integrating new services into Unreal Engine where they genuinely help, without letting quality or budgets slip. This builds on real experience running asset pipelines across a full game.Success looks like:External data source comes in quickly and to a high visual and realistic standardYou ensure integration and validation of the data source is automated and efficientYou prototype early to avoid risksCustom tools and scripts cut repetitive work and keep everyone to the same standardYou use validators to ensure assets meet requirements before submissionEmerging tools and automation are used sensibly to speed up regular updates to playersYou work collaboratively with the team to build and maintain the pipeline2 - Real-Time Content, Shaders, and PerformanceYou help bring the game to the desired visual standard whilst remaining within budget and constraints. You build shaders and materials, support VFX, rigging and animation, profile and optimise assets and scenes for performance and minimal load times.When materials, collision, or rendering have issues, you fix them without losing the visual fidelity our game demands.Success looks like:The game meets the visual expectations where needed and stays within constraintsShaders and materials hit the intended look and are performant on the target hardwareVFX, rigging, animation, and simulation get solid technical supportProfiling catches performance and load-time problems before they land, not afterRendering, material, and collision issues get resolved quickly3 - Working with The Team and Setting StandardsYou are the person the team comes to with technical art questions. You tell them what is realistic, flag risks early, and work closely with the whole team, and our external partners so that ambition and what the engine can actually do stay in step.You set the technical standards and keep people to them, coach the team on the tools and good habits, and give everyone an honest, current picture of how the pipeline and the content are doing, so decisions get made in good time.Success looks like:Team and external partners are pulling in the same direction, with trade-offs raised earlyAssist organisation, planning and implementation of editor, game features and toolsThe team works to clear, consistent technical and art standardsQuick help is on hand to unblock when the pipeline has bugs or performance issuesTechnical risks are spotted early and brought up with practical options and mitigationsLeadership trusts the state of the pipeline and the content going into the gameOverall, you are doing the job well when:External data flows into the game efficiently and to standard, with automationThe game looks high-end where it matters without impacting performanceContent ships at the visual and performance bar we set, and regularly post releaseTechnical risks get caught and dealt with earlyArt, engineering, and outside partners stay aligned on the technical trade-offsRequirementsProven experience as an Unreal Engine Technical Artist in the games industryStrong experience owning pipelines and workflows in a team environmentExcellent technical knowledge and competencies creating scripts and workflowsExcellent knowledge and understanding of the video game development processA rapid prototyping and iterative approach with strong analytical skillsExcellent collaboration and communication skills cross disciplineExcellent ability to organize and prioritize work aligned to project goalsA great ability to think creatively to overcome technical challengesPlease note: This is a remote-working position, open to anyone within the UK & Europe.BenefitsOur benefits include a 2-week company summer break and a 2-week winter break to rest and recharge, in addition to your normal holiday allowance.Originally posted on Himalayas