Technical Artist, Character (Unreal Engine)

TL;DR

Technical Artist, Character (Unreal Engine): Driving the technical quality and pipeline integrity of characters from high-resolution sculpts to fully rigged NPCs with an accent on workflow definition, shader authoring, and engine integration. Focus on optimizing skin weights, developing rigging plugins, and ensuring high-performance character rendering in UE5.

Location: Must be based in or be able to relocate to Los Angeles, CA or Raleigh, NC. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Salary: $90,000–$110,000 per year

Company

Artist-led independent studio shaping the future of film, television, and immersive storytelling through interconnected worlds.

What you will do

• Define and maintain workflows for mesh import, LOD generation, skinning, and engine integration.
• Author character shaders (skin SSS, hair, eyes) and layered material blending using HLSL.
• Develop scripts and plugins for riggers and animators using Python and MEL for corrective shapes and deformer optimization.
• Configure skeletal meshes, physics assets, and control rig setups within Unreal Engine 5.
• Optimize skin weights, joint counts, and GPU skinning costs across hero and background character tiers.
• Collaborate with artists and engineers to maintain pipeline efficiency and milestone cadences.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of professional experience as a Character TD or Tech Artist in AAA games or interactive media.
• Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, specifically Skeletal Mesh, Control Rig, Groom, and Physical Assets.
• Expert-level Maya skills in rigging, skinning, deformers, and Python/MEL scripting.
• Experience with HLSL shader authoring and PBR texturing for characters.
• Proficiency in facial rigging, blend shapes, and FACS-based setups.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work at an artist-led studio with a massive global box office track record.
• Contribution to high-profile projects and immersive worlds spanning across multiple media.
• Collaborative environment partnering with industry leaders and creative visionaries.