VFX Director

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Washington.

📋 Description

• Define and uphold the overarching VFX artistic vision and quality standards for Studio Wildcard projects.

• Guide and mentor a team of VFX artists, offering creative direction, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Create VFX style guides, visual standards, workflows, and industry best practices for production.

• Collaborate with Art, Engineering, Design, Animation, Cinematics, and Production teams to craft cohesive visual experiences.

• Supervise gameplay VFX, encompassing environmental effects, abilities, weapons, creatures, destruction, weather, magic, explosions, and other interactive elements.

• Ensure that VFX assets comply with performance, scalability, readability, and platform specifications.

• Collaborate with Technical Artists and Engineers to enhance VFX tools, shaders, materials, particle systems, and pipelines.

• Establish effective review and iteration processes for VFX production.

• Maintain a balance between visual quality, gameplay readability, and technical performance.

• Engage in creative reviews, providing clear and actionable feedback to artists.

• Assist in defining staffing, scheduling, task prioritization, and resource allocation for VFX production.

• Identify emerging VFX technologies and techniques to enhance project quality and efficiency.

• Stay informed about current advancements in real-time rendering, simulation, procedural, and cinematic VFX techniques.

• Articulate a clear creative vision, foster a robust artistic culture, mentor artists, encourage experimentation, establish quality benchmarks, and advocate for the VFX team during planning and technical development.

⛳️ Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience in creating VFX for AAA games, film, animation, or similar real-time entertainment fields.

• Prior experience leading or directing a VFX team.

• In-depth understanding of real-time VFX production and Unreal Engine 5 or later.

• Proven ability to establish and maintain a unified visual style across extensive projects.

• Strong artistic grasp of color, composition, timing, motion, lighting, scale, and visual storytelling.

• Proficient in particle systems, shaders/materials, textures, animation, simulations, and procedural effects.

• Solid understanding of performance optimization and real-time rendering constraints.

• Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration abilities.

• Capability to provide clear artistic feedback while fostering a positive and creative team atmosphere.

• Experience working across multiple disciplines within a game development environment.

• A robust portfolio showcasing high-quality VFX work.

• Preferred: Experience with Unreal Engine and/or other contemporary real-time engines.

• Preferred: Experience creating VFX for large open-world or multiplayer games.

• Preferred: Experience with creature, environmental, elemental, weather, destruction, and combat VFX.

• Preferred: Experience directing cinematic VFX and trailer production.

• Preferred: Familiarity with Niagara, Houdini, Substance tools, or similar procedural/VFX technologies.

• Preferred: Experience in developing or enhancing VFX production pipelines and tools.

• Preferred: Experience collaborating with technical artists and graphics programmers.

• Preferred: Passion for dinosaurs, creatures, survival games, science fiction, fantasy, or expansive worlds.

• Required application materials: Resume, portfolio, and cover letter.

• The cover letter should detail your interest in working for Studio Wildcard and mention the games you are currently playing.

• Portfolio or reel should showcase real-time gameplay VFX, combat or ability effects, environmental effects, creature or character effects, large-scale effects and simulations, shader/material work where applicable, and cinematic VFX where relevant.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.

• Flexible working hours and remote work options.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• A creative and collaborative work environment.

• Access to industry conferences and events.