Technical Artist - VFX Lighting

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 global 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. 

Job Description

As a Technical Artist with Tantalus, your role is to help build and deliver key tools, pipelines and workflows to support art creation, while also contributing to the art on projects in your domain of expertise.

• Create or re-invent art assets in your area of expertise (eg: shaders, lighting, VFX, rigging).
• Confidently communicate with other disciplines, in particular 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.

Expectations

• Proactively identify problems and propose, test and document solutions.
• Research and explore new technologies and techniques and keep up-to-date with the latest trends in game development.
• Share learnings and best practices, workflows and new tools with the wider team.
• Be available for technical support for the art team.
• Actively demonstrate a desire to learn and grow professionally.
• Contribute towards a positive and supportive company culture.
• Experience in art content creation.
• Strong attention to detail, able to multi-task and adapt to change.
• Artistic eye and solid understanding of art or animation pipelines.
• 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 one or more areas - Shader development, Character rigging, Pipeline and tool development, Procedural asset generation, VFX / Particles, Lighting, Real-time physics simulations, Real-time rendering and post-effects, Asset optimisation and performance profiling.
• 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.

Qualifications

Bonus Skills

• 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