Lead Vfx Artist (Skeleton Key)

At Wizards of the Coast, we connect people around the world through play and imagination. From our genre defining games like Magic: The Gathering® and Dungeons & Dragons® to our growing multiverse, we continue to innovate and build new ways to foster friendship and connection. That's where you come in!
Skeleton Key is a new game development studio and division of Wizards of the Coast. We are a group of industry veterans who are guided by the belief that empowering our teams and providing the proper time, tools, and support we can foster a creative culture where everyone can do their best work.
Our new studio is located in Austin, TX, and we are looking for a passionate and dedicated Lead VFX Artistto join us and bring our first AAA game to life. We offer fully remote, hybrid, or in-office options for day-to-day work.
Reporting to the Art Director you build and manage a diverse team of VFX artists and play a meaningful role as we concept and kick off pre-production. You'll guide the studio toward crafting specialized real-time effects for environments, characters, and assets to help us create a truly terrifying experience.
The ideal candidate will have proven experience creating high-fidelity AAA visuals in games or film, possess a solid understanding of Unreal Engine, and is deeply creative with a great sense of what makes VFX fun, immersive and engaging. You have high standards in everything you do and are committed to crafting memorable gaming experiences. You put the player first.
What You'll Do:

• Improve the visual quality of the game by crafting high-quality real-time visual effects.
• Work with the Art Director to establish and maintain FX art direction for game.
• Collaborate with art, lighting, design, sound, animation, and production to bring levels and features to life.
• Hire, lead, and mentor a group of VFX artists to further their skills and cohesion as a team.
• Help to improve technical pipelines and VFX creation techniques/tools.
• Manage, set quality bar, and provide feedback for external teams and development partners for all aspects of visual effects.

What You Bring:

• 6+ yrs experience in AAA digital game development as a Lead, Senior, or Principal VFX artist.
• Experience leading a team and individuals.
• Experience working within Unreal.
• Proven track record to build beautiful and affecting VFX for games, film/tv, or a combination of both Photoshop, Maya, and in-game FX systems.
• Both technical and creative artistic vision.
• Strong understanding of particle systems.
• Experience with giving and receiving feedback.
• Experience multi-tasking and adapting easily to change.
• Passion for making and playing games.
• Enthusiastic, positive, team-oriented; must have the ability to interact and collaborate with all departments and teams.
• Self-sufficient and self-motivated, can perform duties with little oversight.

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer
The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for satisfactory performance in this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the duties, responsibilities, or requirements of the position.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you are selected to move forward in our application process and need to request an accommodation, please let your recruiter or coordinator know.
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation range for this role. The range listed is just one component of Wizards of the Coast's total compensation package for employees. Employees may also be eligible for annual and long-term incentives. In addition, Wizards of the Coast provides a variety of benefits to employees. Here's a look at what your benefits package may include: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Paid Vacation Time & Holidays, Generous 401(k) match, Paid Parental Leave, Volunteer Program, Employee Giving & Matching Gifts Programs, Tuition Reimbursement, Product Discounts, and more.
Compensation Range
$170,960 - $299,520 USD