VFX Artist (Lead)

Location: Hybrid or onsite in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; hybrid work requires three studio days per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Salary: CAD 95,000–115,000 per year for Senior level or CAD 110,000–130,000 per year for Specialist level.

Company

hirify.global develops original and existing intellectual property games focused on creative, polished player experiences.

What you will do

• Define and build the visual effects look and style for game projects with the Art Director and project leaders.
• Create a wide range of real-time VFX, in-engine visual benchmarks, references, textures, shaders, and assets.
• Establish VFX systems, asset-creation best practices, documentation, and optimization approaches within performance budgets.
• Plan VFX schedules, estimate tasks, allocate resources, and support project production.
• Lead reviews, provide constructive feedback, mentor artists, and participate in recruitment and performance development.
• Collaborate with artists, engineers, designers, and QA to implement complex content and meet gameplay goals.

Requirements

• 10+ years of real-time VFX experience in the game industry on console and/or PC platforms.
• Strong portfolio of shipped games.
• Experience creating VFX from original ideas, including custom textures and shaders.
• High proficiency with VFX-related DCC tools such as Photoshop, Substance Designer, EmberGen, Maya, Blender, and Houdini.
• Strong technical understanding of hardware constraints, optimization, asset management, and collaboration with engineering teams.
• Strong organization, self-direction, creativity, receptiveness to feedback, and passion for games.

Nice to have

• Experience with node-based VFX systems such as PopcornFX v2, Unity VFX Graph, or Unreal Engine Niagara.
• Experience with the EmberGen Elemental Suite.
• Skills in an additional discipline such as Tech Art, concept art, animation, UI, lighting, or design.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive, diverse, and authentic workplace committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free environment.
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Retirement savings plan and paid holidays.
• Flexible time-off benefits.
• Potential annual bonuses, which are not guaranteed.