Tech Artist - VFX

at  Tantalus South

Company Description
Keywords Studios is one of the largest go-to technical and creative services providers to the global video games industry. We provide integrated art production, engineering, audio services, testing, localization, and player support services for PC, Playstation, Nintendo, Xbox video games. How big are we? 17,000 employees. 80+ Studios. 20+ Countries. EUR$650M+ Revenue. Best of all, we continue to grow in a sustainable way.
Keywords Studios Australia, consists of Wicked Workshop (Vic), Tantalus Media (SA, Qld, Vic), and Mighty Games. In 2023 we added over 70 new, talented individuals surpassing 250 employees in Australia. We’re anticipating similar growth for 2024. Whilst we’re backed by a highly successful parent company, we still enjoy the intimacy and independent studio feels. If you’re a passionate, collaborative, can-do, delivery focused individual, we’d love to hear from you.
Tantalus South is located in Adelaide and employs some of the best talent in video games South Australia has to offer. Some would even say in Australia. With over twenty staff members, 2024 will see us continue to add to this high achieving, quality driven, fun loving team. Experienced professionals with prior experience in shipping AAA games across Console, PC, or Nintendo, we’re keen to speak with you.
Job Description
Tantalus South are looking for a Technical Artist specializing in VFX and shaders, to join our team in our Adelaide CBD Studio.
As a Technical Artist (VFX), your role is to craft and integrate dynamic real-time visual effects, help improve technical pipelines, workflows and VFX creation techniques / tools, and support overall art creation and optimization.

REQUIREMENTS

• Approx. 10+ years of Games Industry experience (Senior).
• Experience in art and animation content creation.
• Strong attention to detail, able to multi-task and adapt to change.
• Artistic eye and solid understanding of art pipeline.
• Proficiency in scripting and coding in one or more of the following - Python, C#, C++, HLSL, MEL, MaxScript.
• Knowledge of industry DCC packages – Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, Adobe Suite – with strong foundational knowledge in at least one.
• Current development experience with Unity, UE4 or UE5.
• Skills and interest in - Shader development, Pipeline and tool development, VFX / Particles, Real-time physics simulations.
• A passion for games, an interest and awareness in the latest trends, tools, technology and approaches in creating content.
• Strong time management and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills.

BONUS SKILLS

• Skills and interest in one or more areas - Character rigging, Procedural asset generation, Lighting, Real-time rendering and post-effects, Asset optimisation and performance profiling.
• Experience in AAA game development.
• Familiarity with Maya API.
• Experience with Houdini and Substance Designer.
• Experience with console development – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox.
• Traditional art / drawing / painting / photography skills.

• Create or re-invent VFX and shaders.
• Confidently communicate with other disciplines, including 3D art and engineering, to facilitate solutions that push the project forward.
• Support art content production by advancing art pipelines, workflows and methodologies.
• Develop tools and processes that facilitate content authoring with an emphasis on user experience, quality and productivity.
• Asset optimisation, integration, performance profiling and validation.
• Collaborate with other Technical Artists to maintain and further improve on project / studio tools and workflows.
• Create and maintain technical documentation.
• Assist with asset creation or re-invention in domains outside your area of expertise if needed.