Lead VFX Artist

System Era is searching for a Lead VFX Artist to join our creative team and help shape the vibrant worlds of Astroneer!

Using your expert game development skills, help us develop a unique style for VFX while enjoying working on a game with a highly collaborative team. This role will require expert soft skills and the confidence to drive features across disciplines. As the core of the VFX team, your work intertwines with every department, so a prompt, positive and highly communicative working style is required. This role will require a balance between individual contributions of VFX, mentorship, and leadership. As a mid-size studio, System Era requires it's employees to not only be nimble, but to understand that each individual may need to wear multiple hats. Honesty, sincerity and vulnerability are valued traits at System Era. Come help us shape System Era's VFX future!

While many on the team work in a hybrid model, with regular time spent onsite at our studio in Seattle, WA, System Era supports a variety of work routines to match the needs of our studio, including permanent remote work within the US and Canada through an Employer of Record. 

Compensation package includes salary, benefits with full medical and dental coverage for employee and dependents, 401k with company match, participation in profit sharing, discretionary bonuses, professional development funds, WFH stipend, as well as relocation assistance for those interested in moving to Washington state. The base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000 depending on the skills and experience of the candidate. We look for candidates who value joining a team with a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and viewpoints.

Responsibilities

• Contribute directly to the product by producing the majority of the assets needed for the product within the VFX discipline.
• Lead a small team of artists, internal and external, to create content and develop new styles, elevating System Era's ability to create VFX.
• Able to lead cross-discipline efforts to create new workflows and features.
• Mentor artists within the team and across disciplines to elevate the studios shared VFX pipeline understanding.
  
• Build the studio's VFX department as the hiring manager.
• Work with Production to organize our VFX workload to support shipping.
• Work with external partners such as Co-Dev and Outsourcing to fulfill the needs of the product.

Qualifications

• Highly Experienced artist with an expert understanding of game development and broad knowledge of content authoring packages.
• Expert understanding of Unreal Engine 5 and the Niagara tool set.
• Able to internalize the project's visual direction and work to maintain a cohesive style across all relevant game assets.
• Approach problems with a positive attitude and expert soft skills.
• Able to craft high quality VFX on a time-boxed schedule.
• Strong tech focus with ability to creatively problem solve while being reactive to unique problems.
• Able to hit the ground running and succeeding while doing so.
• Highly communicative via Slack as well as video calls.
• Demonstrated ability to own and manage large areas of content or feature
  development.
• Highly self motivated.
• Online portfolio exhibiting most of the above qualifications.
• Experience in mentoring game developers while in a leadership role or not.

Nice to Haves

• Exhibit a strong affinity for stylized art, with an understanding of Astroneer's style.
  
• Houdini experience.
• Tech-art focused.
  
• Interest in aerospace, science fiction, and a makers mindset.