Technical Artist - The Sims

1 Day ago • 2-5 Years • Technical Art

About the job

Summary

The Technical Artist at Maxis will support content creators by resolving issues, innovating solutions, and developing tools to enhance the creative process for Sims Mobile. Responsibilities include shader development and maintenance, asset pipeline optimization, Unity tool creation, floor plan system development, providing technical support and training, performance profiling and optimization. The role requires proficiency in Unity, shader programming (HLSL/GLSL), C#, and collaboration with artists and engineers. This is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days per week on-site in either Vancouver or Toronto.
Must have:
  • Shader development (HLSL/GLSL)
  • Unity & C# scripting
  • Asset pipeline optimization
  • Tool development & support
  • Collaboration & problem-solving
Good to have:
  • Experience with other game engines
  • Python scripting
  • Version control (Git, Perforce)
Perks:
  • Vacation (3 weeks)
  • Sick time (10 days)
  • Paid parental leave
  • Extended health/dental/vision
  • Life & disability insurance
  • Retirement plan
  • Bonus & equity (potential)
Not hearing back from companies?
Unlock the secrets to a successful job application and accelerate your journey to your next opportunity.

We are a global team of creators, storytellers, technologists, experience originators, innovators and so much more. We believe amazing games and experiences start with teams as diverse as the players and communities we serve. At Electronic Arts, the only limit is your imagination.

Welcome to Maxis, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, & storytellers. Our drive is to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. As the developer of The Sims, we create games and experiences for millions of people around the world and are always looking for new ways to inspire our players. Maxis is a place where you can do what you love and help others grow while doing it; a place where your unique voice can be heard and seen. We put creativity and inclusivity at the core of our work and don't settle for seeing the world only as it is, but strive to build a world as it could be.

Location (Hybrid Role 3 days/week onsite): Vancouver, Toronto

In this role as a Technical Artist for Sims Mobile you are a support-oriented individual who assists content creators in resolving encountered issues and innovating solutions that enhance the creative process. In this role you should always be ready to actively provide help and provide insight when there is a request for a new tool in order to characterize the need and recommend a solution.

This role will be reporting to the Technical Art Lead.

Responsibilities:

  • Shader Development & Asset Pipeline Support:

    • Design, implement, and maintain high-quality shaders to enhance visual fidelity.

    • Collaborate with artists and engineers to optimize the asset pipeline, ensuring efficient workflows and integration.

  • Unity Tooling:

    • Develop and maintain custom tools in Unity to streamline content creation and enhance productivity.

    • Provide technical support for tool usage and troubleshoot issues as they arise.Floor Plan / Layout Systems Development:

    • Work closely with level designers to create and refine floor plan and layout systems.

    • Ensure systems are flexible, user-friendly, and support the creative vision of the projects.

  • Technical Support:

    • Respond to and resolve technical art-related questions and issues from the art and design teams.

    • Provide training and documentation to empower team members with the tools and knowledge needed.

  • Profiling and Optimization:

    • Assist in profiling and optimizing game performance across various platforms.

    • Identify bottlenecks and work with the team to implement solutions to improve frame rates and memory usage.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Art, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

  • Proficiency in Unity and experience with shader programming (HLSL/GLSL).

  • Proven success using 3D graphics, rendering pipelines, and optimization techniques.

  • 3+ years of experience with scripting languages such as C#, Python.

  • An ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

  • Explaining technical problems to non-technical team members.

  • Experience with other game engines and toolsets.

  • Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git, Perforce).

  • Previous experience in game development or a related industry.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

BASE SALARY RANGES

  • British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria)

    • $89,300 - $123,000 CAD

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

View Full Job Description
$69.0K - $95.0K/yr (Outscal est.)
$82.0K/yr avg.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

About The Company

Maxis, creators of the ever-expanding Sims world, is an EA studio where a diverse collection of creatives make games that inspire players across the globe. We have offices in Redwood City, CA, Austin, TX, and Kitchener, ON, as well as team members based across the US and Europe.

Maxis is a place for people who see building games as a unique opportunity to change hearts and minds by giving players the chance to create their own unique experiences. Members of our team are working toward a better world not only through our games, but through employee resource groups and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

We support each other so we can be authentic. We foster connectedness so we can collaborate. We respect boundaries to build an environment that’s safe, creative, and ideal for tinkering. We’re on the lookout for diverse, innovative thinkers who want to make a positive impact on the world.

Victoria, Australia (Hybrid)

British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)

Victoria, Australia (Hybrid)

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

California, United States (Hybrid)

View All Jobs

Level Up Your Career in Game Development!

Transform Your Passion into Profession with Our Comprehensive Courses for Aspiring Game Developers.

Job Common Plug