VFX Artist

At Velan Studios, we foster a culture of curiosity. Our games are fueled by the adventurous spirit of our team. We are the creative minds behind titles like Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, Knockout City, and Hot Wheels Rift Rally, and our journey continues! Our studio's mission is to pioneer groundbreaking gaming experiences and reimagine play in new ways. We're committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional gaming, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, and revolutionizing the industry one game at a time.

We are looking for a skilled, passionate VFX artist to join our team. If you’re brimming with passion and curiosity and ready to create the best work of your career, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Craft and create a wide range of VFX for original and existing IP game properties.
• Work closely with the Art Director and other key team leaders to help define and build out the VFX look and style for our projects.
• Collaborate with the design and art teams to develop high-quality assets that reinforce the gameplay goals of our projects and operate within performance budgets.
• Be proactive in problem-solving and cross-discipline brainstorming throughout project production cycles.
• Contribute to peer reviews, troubleshoot, problem solve, and give and receive constructive feedback.
• Bring a strong understanding of modern artistic toolsets and typical AAA game engine experience.

Requirements

• 5+ years of game industry experience on console, mobile, handheld and/or PC platforms preferred.
• Degree or equivalent experience in Digital Media Design, Game Design, Illustration, or related field is desired.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in VFX.
• Demonstrated strength in custom texture and shader creation.
• Strong portfolio of shipped games (mobile, console, PC).
• Excellent technical art understanding in order to better work with our engineering team, as well as to better work within the limits of various hardware platforms.
• Strong organizational skills with adherence to optimization and asset management.
• Passion for making and playing great games, with an awareness of current titles and industry trends.
• Self-direction, passion, and creativity in your work.
• A receptiveness to feedback and the ability to act successfully on direct critique.

Big Plusses

• Experience or skill in one or more additional disciplines (e.g. TechArt, Concepting, Animation, User Interface, Lighting, Design, etc.)
• Technical expertise with Unreal Engine’s Niagara and/or Unity’s VFX_Graph.
• Ability to create from your own ideas, not just from pre-existing concept art.
• Leadership and/or mentoring experience.

We're thrilled that you're considering joining our team. We want to let you know that candidates who can work onsite in our Troy, NY studio are highly preferred. We believe that working together in person can foster better collaboration and creativity, and we're excited about the opportunity to have you right here with us. Velan Studios is made up of a team of remote, hybrid, and onsite employees, with hybrid and onsite team members operating from our Troy, NY office.

The salary for this position is typically within the range specified below* per year. Please note that the actual base pay may vary based on factors such as your qualifications, skills, experience, and other relevant considerations. In addition to your salary, our comprehensive compensation package includes various perks, such as potential annual bonuses (though they are not guaranteed), health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays, and flexible time-off benefits.

*$80,000 - $140,000