Technical Artist

Recognized as a leader in developing mass-market titles for video game consoles, Heavy Iron Studios, Inc. is a video game developer based in Los Angeles, California originally founded as a THQ studio in 1999. Heavy Iron is now a part of Keywords Studios and under Keywords Studios’ Game Development service line, we provide game development support to many of today’s most popular game titles.

Heavy Iron has worked in close partnership over the years with developers such as Activision, Amazon Games, Bandai Namco, Epic Games, Riot Games, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and more to offer compelling, interactive gaming experiences across multiple generations of console platforms.

Heavy Iron Studios is actively looking for a Technical Artist to join our team. Technical Artists will act as a bridge between Artists and Programmers and ensure art assets can be easily integrated into a game without sacrificing either the overall artistic vision or exceeding the technical limits of the chosen platform. We are looking for an excited team member to be responsible for the spearheading of cutting-edge real-time graphics and technology development. This role helps develop Heavy Iron’s future technology by continually looking for areas to enhance the team’s current methods of content creation with innovative and optimized workflows and pipelines.

Our culture promotes collaboration, and we enjoy working together. We are always looking for exceptional talent for our team. We want to hear from you if you meet the qualifications and have an interest in working on exciting projects. We pride ourselves on creating quality and timely products for our partners and players.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research and integrate new technology into art production methods
• Help conquer complex animation and visual effect content challenges
• Develop the appropriate technical tools, shaders, and pipelines to be leveraged by artists and animators
• Optimization of shaders and lighting
• Integrate and set up art resources for game use
• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of software used by art team
• Provides documentation and mentors teams to fully take advantage of our tools and technology
• Demonstrate new workflows and visual improvements
• Keeps current with the technological developments and advancements throughout the game industry
• Understands memory and frame-rate budgets for console platforms
• Ability to meet deadlines under tight schedules
• Willingness to receive direction and work closely with the team

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university, or two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong knowledge of physically based shading and lighting
• Strong knowledge of cutting-edge content creation pipelines
• Strong grasp of mathematical concepts and analysis techniques as they apply to technical art
• Experience in node-based shader networks such as those found in Unreal Engine
• Experience in Substance Designer/Painter, Houdini, and Maya
• Working knowledge of HLSL and Python

Benefits

• Benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision
• Sick leave
• Paid vacation
• Corporate holidays, including floating holidays
• Disability coverage
• Paid Basic and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary FSA, HSA
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
• Work alongside dynamic individuals in the dubbing and gaming industry
• Work within a company with upward career growth opportunities

The salary range reflected is an estimate of base pay and varies per state. The base pay range may vary if an offer is made for work in your location. The pay range in CA is between $50,000 - $100,000.

Role Information: EN
Studio: Heavy Iron
Location: Americas, United States, California
Area of Work: Art Services
Service: Create
Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent
Working Pattern: Remote, Hybrid