TL;DR

Senior Fx Artist (Cinematics): Creating high-quality visual effects for award-winning animated films and real-time cinematics with an accent on physical simulations and procedural systems. Focus on designing realistic and magical effects, prototyping artist tools, and leading FX artist teams.

Location: Hybrid position based in Irvine, CA, USA with possible remote work arrangements

Salary: $8,878–$16,407 per month (based on $53.74–$99.46 hourly)

Company

%hirify_global% is a premier game developer known for iconic franchises like Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, part of Activision %hirify_global% and Microsoft.

What you will do

Develop realistic and abstract FX simulations such as smoke, fire, water, and magical effects.
Collaborate with modelers, animators, texture artists, lighters, and compositors to deliver high-quality shots.
Prototype and implement artist tools in partnership with technical teams.
Lead teams of FX artists on individual cinematic projects.
Create effects for both pre-rendered cinematics and real-time game engines.

Requirements

Must have 12+ years of experience producing feature film quality effects using Houdini.
Strong knowledge of particle systems, fluid and rigid body dynamics, and procedural systems.
Experience with node-based compositing software such as Nuke.
Deep understanding of physical dynamics and natural phenomena.
Ability to work in a hybrid setup based in or near Irvine, CA, USA.
Experience or strong desire to learn real-time effects for cinematics or games.

Nice to have

Experience with VEX, PDG, USD, Solaris, C++, Python, and various renderers like Mantra, Karma, RenderMan, or Redshift.
Experience with real-time effects for cinematics or game development.

Culture & Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance plans.
401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement, and charitable donation matching.
Paid holidays, vacation, sick time, parental leave, and other leaves.
Mental health and wellbeing programs, fitness programs, and free or discounted games.
Relocation assistance if geographic move is required.