Principal VFX Artist

2 days ago

Canada People Can Fly Studio Full time

People Can Fly is one of the leading independent AAA games development studios with an international team of hundreds of talented individuals working from offices located in Poland, UK, US, and Canada, and from all over the world thanks to our remote work programs.

Founded in 2002, we made our mark on the shooter genre with titles such as Painkiller, Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment, and Outriders. We are one of the most experienced Unreal Engine studios in the industry and we are expanding it with in-house solutions called PCF Framework.

Our creative teams are currently working on several exciting titles: Gemini is our new project being developed with Square Enix; Maverick is a Triple-A game developed in collaboration with Microsoft Corporation; Bifrost & Victoria are projects we're growing in the self-publishing model. We are also busy working on a VR and undisclosed projects, more information on those to come later.

With over 20 years of experience, PCF sets out to explore new horizons. We aim to combine our expertise with creativity of the best and most forward-thinking talents in the industry to work together on the new generation of action games for the global gaming community.

If you decide to accompany us on this journey, you’ll have a chance to perfect your craft and expand your knowledge, working alongside leaders in the industry on bringing a brand-new unique experience to the players worldwide.

Project Victoria is a yet unannounced AAA action-adventure game developed by our North American team supported by PCF’s European studios.


Job Description

We are looking for a Principal VFX Artist to join our team and craft captivating visual effects that elevate the player experience. In this role, you will design and deliver visually impressive VFX assets that align with the project’s concept, positively impact gameplay, and enhance player immersion and engagement.

Responsibilities

Artistic Direction and Quality

  • Maintain the artistic direction and quality standards throughout the project.
  • Produce high-quality VFX assets that align both technically and artistically with the project's universe and visual style.
  • Collaborate with the Art Director and Lead to define and uphold the artistic vision and style, ensuring consistency across the entire development pipeline.
  • Translate concept art and game design documents into prototypes and implement them as real-time VFX in the game under the supervision of the Lead.
  • Create ambient environmental effects that enhance mood, convey narratives, and bring the game world to life.

Production and Deadline Management

  • Deliver work that adheres to specifications while maintaining workflow pipelines and meeting deadlines.
  • Address bugs and document R&D case studies in the knowledge base.
  • Understand and implement established asset organizational structures and naming conventions to ensure coherence within the VFX pipeline.

Feedback and Quality Improvement

  • Participate in review sessions, professionally adapting to and implementing feedback from leads and peers.
  • Provide constructive feedback to enhance visual quality.
  • Create gameplay effects that invigorate the game world and provide players with essential gameplay feedback.

Collaboration and Communication

  • Share knowledge and collaborate with Technical Art and Leads on R&D initiatives, exploring new techniques and improving workflows while documenting processes with technical and user documentation.
  • Work alongside developers from various disciplines to ensure seamless integration of VFX into the game build.
  • Collaborate with designers to develop effects for scripted events and narrative moments.
  • Partner with the lighting department to enhance atmosphere, depth, and reinforce the color palette.
  • Occasionally assist Leads and HR in recruitment efforts.
  • Support new hires during the onboarding process as needed.

Additional Artistic Responsibilities

  • Create high-fidelity effects for cinematics and marketing materials.
  • Innovate new techniques for next-gen hardware, collaborating with engineers and technical artists to expand the VFX toolkit.
  • Possess a strong understanding of the technical challenges associated with content creation in this field.
  • Analyze scenes for performance issues and ensure that all effects are optimized for efficiency.
  • Utilize a variety of tools, including traditional particles, pixel shaders, vertex shaders for animated materials, baked physics simulations, and stock animations, to create compelling effects.
  • Stay updated on industry best practices to influence the direction of the VFX pipeline.


Qualifications

  • Minimum 7 years of experience in AAA console/PC game development, including over 5 years with Unreal Engine.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing examples of AAA-quality real-time VFX work.
  • Excellent knowledge of industry-standard software packages for modeling and high-poly sculpting (Maya, Max, ZBrush, Photoshop, or equivalents).
  • Deep understanding of the principles of animation.
  • Critical eye and strong sense of the motion of real-world objects and VFX.
  • Solid understanding of the constraints of real-time VFX.
  • Ability to artistically interpret concepts or creatively push beyond initial ideas.
  • Excellent understanding of art fundamentals (shape, form, texture, value, and color) and anatomical knowledge of both bipedal and quadrupedal forms.
  • Solid experience with a variety of techniques and tools for creating VFX animation (standard particle systems, fluid sims, physics sims, etc.).
  • Proven skills in creating all source art needed for VFX (textures, geometry, flipbooks, normal maps, vector field textures, etc.).
  • Strong experience with UE5 tools for VFX creation (or similar tools from other engines).
  • Solid experience in creating complex pixel and vertex shaders.
  • Strong experience in scripting (visual or otherwise) and mathematics within the context of VFX.
  • Adaptive with the ability to develop specific art styles, techniques, and workflows with minimal guidance.
  • Strong mentoring skills.
  • Ability to collaborate with department leads and different teams to solve artistic and technical challenges.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.

Nice to Have Qualifications

  • Experience in HLSL shader creation.
  • Knowledge of Houdini.

  • Principal VFX Artist

    2 weeks ago

    Canada, CA People Can Fly Studio Full time

    People Can Fly is one of the leading independent AAA games development studios with an international team of hundreds of talented individuals working from offices located in Poland, UK, US, and Canada, and from all over the world thanks to our remote work programs.Founded in 2002, we made our mark on the shooter genre with titles such as Painkiller,...

  • Principal VFX Artist

    1 day ago

    Canada People Can Fly Studio Full time

    People Can Fly is one of the leading independent AAA games development studios with an international team of hundreds of talented individuals working from offices located in Poland, UK, US, and Canada, and from all over the world thanks to our remote work programs. Founded in 2002, we made our mark on the shooter genre with titles such as Painkiller,...

  • Vfx Artist

    5 months ago

    Canada Hasbro Full time

    At Invoke, our mission is to Have Fun Building Great Games. We believe the best games come from people who love what they do, in an environment that values them and their ideas. That’s why we make games that our younger selves used to dream about. And we make sure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to our collective success. Being part of...

  • Senior Real-Time VFX Specialist

    2 days ago

    Canada People Can Fly Studio Full time

    Job OverviewWe are seeking a highly skilled Senior Real-Time VFX Specialist to join our team at People Can Fly Studio.About the RoleAs a Principal VFX Artist, you will be responsible for crafting captivating visual effects that elevate the player experience. You will collaborate with the Art Director and Lead to define and uphold the artistic vision and...

  • Lead Technical Artist

    4 weeks ago

    Canada Tech Artists Full time

    Lead Technical ArtistJoin our team of innovative and talented technical artists at Certain Affinity, Inc. as we push the boundaries of game development.About the RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Technical Artist to lead our technical art team in the creation of high-quality game content. As a key member of our team, you will be...

  • Rotomation Artist

    2 weeks ago

    Canada, CA People Tech Group Inc Full time

    Job Summary:The Rotomation Artist will be responsible for accurately matching live-action performance with 3D animation, replicating the movement and positioning of actors, props, and cameras. This role requires precision, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of animation principles, character motion, and body mechanics. The ideal candidate has a...

  • Visual Effects Artist

    2 days ago

    Canada Disruptive Games Full time

    Disruptive Games is a veteran development studio specializing in multiplayer and online experiences. We are an independently owned studio helping to build some of the industry's most successful and recognizable games. In addition, we are also hard at work on our own original IP.We’re expanding our fully-remote team with people who share our passion for...

  • Visual Effects Artist

    1 day ago

    Canada Disruptive Games Full time

    Disruptive Games is a veteran development studio specializing in multiplayer and online experiences. We are an independently owned studio helping to build some of the industry's most successful and recognizable games. In addition, we are also hard at work on our own original IP. We’re expanding our fully-remote team with people who share our passion for...

  • Visual Effects Artist

    2 days ago

    Canada Disruptive Games Full time

    Disruptive Games is a veteran development studio specializing in multiplayer and online experiences. We are an independently owned studio helping to build some of the industry's most successful and recognizable games. In addition, we are also hard at work on our own original IP.We’re expanding our fully-remote team with people who share our passion for...

  • Artiste principal UI

    4 weeks ago

    Canada 2K Full time

    Développez votre carrière en tant qu'Artiste principal UINous sommes à la recherche d'un Artiste principal UI passionné pour rejoindre notre équipe de développement de jeux à Montréal. En tant que membre clé de notre équipe, vous contribuerez à la création d'expériences de jeu innovantes et engageantes pour nos joueurs.ResponsabilitésCollaborer...

  • Principal Material Artist

    3 weeks ago

    Canada, CA People Can Fly Studio Full time

    Company DescriptionPeople Can Fly, un des principaux studios indépendants de développement de jeux AAA, est composé d’une équipe internationale de centaines de personnes talentueuses travaillant depuis des bureaux situés en Pologne, au Royaume-Uni, aux États-Unis et au Canada, mais aussi de partout dans le monde grâce à nos programmes de...

  • Artiste de jeux vidéo

    4 weeks ago

    Canada 2K Full time

    Principal Environment Artist (Map)NetEase Games Montréal, ThunderFire Group of NetEase Games - est l'un des principaux développeurs et éditeurs de jeux vidéo. Nous nous concentrons sur la livraison de l'expérience de jeu de haute qualité sur console, PC et mobile sur les marchés internationaux, et nous recherchons chaleureusement la collaboration avec...

  • 2D Machine Learning Technical Artist

    1 day ago

    Canada Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies Full time

    Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) is seeking a skilled Technical Artist, 2D Machine Learning to collaborate in our newly created RnD department. Your main role will be to explore and develop a machine learning workflow in compositing. You will be researching and developing based on the newest knowledge in the market, to find quick solutions and improve...

  • 2D Machine Learning Technical Artist

    2 days ago

    Canada Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies Full time

    Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) is seeking a skilled Technical Artist, 2D Machine Learning to collaborate in our newly created RnD department. Your main role will be to explore and develop a machine learning workflow in compositing. You will be researching and developing based on the newest knowledge in the market, to find quick solutions and improve...

  • 2D Machine Learning Technical Artist

    2 days ago

    Canada Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies Full time

    Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) is seeking a skilled Technical Artist, 2D Machine Learning to collaborate in our newly created RnD department. Your main role will be to explore and develop a machine learning workflow in compositing. You will be researching and developing based on the newest knowledge in the market, to find quick solutions and improve...

  • Artiste Principal des Assets

    2 weeks ago

    Quebec, Canada, Canada People Can Fly Studio Full time

    Company DescriptionPeople Can Fly, un des principaux studios indépendants de développement de jeux AAA, est composé d’une équipe internationale de centaines de personnes talentueuses travaillant depuis des bureaux situés en Pologne, au Royaume-Uni, aux États-Unis et au Canada, mais aussi de partout dans le monde grâce à nos programmes de...

  • Lighting Supervisor

    2 months ago

    Greater Toronto Area, Canada, Ontario Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies Full time

    We are looking for a talented and experienced Lighting Supervisor to lead our lighting team in crafting visually stunning environments and characters. In this crucial role, you will oversee the artistic lighting direction in alignment with the creative vision set by the VFX Supervisor, ensuring that every element shines with quality and consistency. Your...

  • Artiste UI débutant

    3 weeks ago

    Montreal, Québec, Canada Pixel United Full time

    Nous sommes à la recherche d’un artiste UI débutant talentueux, créatif et enthousiaste qui se joindra à nous sur l’un de nos titres phares dont profitent des millions d’utilisateurs dans le monde entier. Vous aurez l’occasion de développer et de partager vos compétences, d’apprendre d’une équipe diversifiée et de collaborer avec des...

  • Artiste Technique Ui/ui Technical Artist, Amazon

    6 months ago

    Canada Amazon Development Centre Canada ULC Full time

    Qualifications de base - Une solide base en mathématiques algébriques et géométriques de base (« mathématiques de jeu »), en systèmes de jeu et en principes fondamentaux de la programmation - 3+ années d'expérience dans la création d'UI et d'expériences dans des moteurs de jeu sur différentes plateformes (mobile, web, PC, consoles), ou...

  • Visual Effects Creative

    2 days ago

    Canada Disruptive Games Full time

    We're expanding our team at Disruptive Games with a talented Visual Effects Artist. As a key member of our team, you'll be responsible for creating stunning visual effects that bring our games to life.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign and implement high-quality visual effects using UE5's Niagara editor, Material editor, and Blueprints systemCollaborate with...