We're seeking a Senior VFX Artist to join our team. As a senior, production-focused role, you'll create game-ready real-time VFX end-to-end: texturing/materials → particle effects → implementation in a proprietary or commercial engine.

Responsibilities

• Create custom real-time visual effects and implement them in engine (UE5, Unity, or proprietary).
• Create all necessary textures and materials; maintain clean, readable graphs and parameterization.
• Utilize additional software tools like Photoshop, Blender, Houdini, or Maya as needed.
• Understand complex material setups, blueprints, or scripting hooks; troubleshoot issues and partner with Tech Art/Engineering.
• Own optimization fundamentals: budgets, overdraw, particle counts, memory/perf constraints, and console targets.
• Set quality bar, provide clear reviews/paintovers, and guide VFX execution for small pods or strike teams.
• Proactively identify risks (missing hooks, perf spikes, unclear direction), propose solutions, and escalate early.
• Collaborate closely with Designers, Concept Artists, and the Art Director; partner with Tech Art/Engineering as needed.
• Support client-facing communication when required: clarify requirements, share WIP, and align on “definition of done.”
• Assign tasks, set short-term priorities, and maintain a healthy backlog.

Requirements

• Minimum 8-years of professional game industry experience with at least one shipped title.
• Proven end-to-end real-time VFX workflow experience working in-engine implementation in Unreal Engine 4 or 5 and Niagara.
• Strong particle animation fundamentals and shape language (readability, timing, impact).
• Strong material and texture creation skills in Photoshop and/or Substance Designer.
• Demonstrated optimization knowledge (particle counts, overdraw budgets, performance constraints).
• Leadership-level communication: clear written and verbal updates, actionable feedback, strong collaboration habits.
• Experience mentoring or leading other artists (formal lead role not required, but leadership behaviors are).
• Can work Central (CT) core hours with possible overlap hours with Pacific (PT) or Eastern (ET).
• Work options are flexible: remote / hybrid / onsite.

Nice-to-have

• Houdini experience.
• Substance Designer experience.
• EmberGen experience.
• Unity experience.
• Scripting or coding skills (C#, Python, etc.).
• 2D or 3D animation skills.
• Versatility across stylized and realistic work; foliage/atmospherics experience.
• Experience establishing VFX standards/pipeline (templates, naming, libraries, scalability rules).

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio must include:

• Run-time VFX assets with strong readability and clearly understandable elements.
• Strong material definition and texture work (clean, readable, well-constructed).
• Evidence of fundamentals: composition, mood, readability, color choices, animation timing, and understanding of natural energies (fire, water, smoke, etc.).
• At least one example shown in a real-time context implemented in-game (video of the effect happening during gameplay).
• Bonus (strongly preferred): an example showing leadership impact—before/after mentorship, a small set of effects kept consistent across a style bar, or breakdowns/templates you built.

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As a Lead Animator, you will:

• Supervise, guide, and lead specific character animations, such as dances and emotes, in Maya and Unreal, using our ART toolkit
• Conduct Emotes from initial concept, through animation, to final implementation in Unreal Engine
• Collaborate with various art areas within Epic, as well as external partner teams
• Lead the growing library of cosmetic/emote animations offered to players, helping shape and direct the style and identity of Fortnite's animation

We are looking for someone with:

• A reel of animation demonstrating character and creature animations with keyframes
• Solid experience with Maya and game systems, such as Unreal Engine
• Good perception to achieve realistic and stylized movements
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Related skills, such as modeling, skinning, and rigging
• Experience with motion capture data
• Experience in leadership, with participation in the launch of at least one title
• User-focused profile, passion for what they do, focus on solutions, and an innovative attitude

Benefits:

We pay 100% of benefits for both employees and dependents. Our current benefits package includes medical, dental, and life insurance coverage. We also offer additional benefits, including daily meal vouchers and transportation benefits for local employees.

About Us:

Epic Games is a global company with 25 countries, 46 studios, and over 4,500 employees. For over 25 years, we have created award-winning games and technology that enables others to create visually stunning games and 3D content that brings environments to life like never before. Our award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers with the ability to create high-fidelity interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, but is also a tool adopted by content creators in various sectors, such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop notable games, we strive to form teams of world-class talent.

If you liked what you heard, come join something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy here.

Note to recruitment agencies: Epic does not accept resumes or unsolicited approaches from unauthorized third parties (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a validly executed and negotiated contract). We will not pay any fees to unauthorized third parties. More details about these matters can be found here.

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