Lead Tech Artist (Contract)

Dreamscape Learn, a leading pioneer in the realm of immersive XR educational products, is searching for a highly skilled and experienced Lead Technical Artist with expert experience on mobile devices to drive the technical art direction of our android-based projects. This role requires a blend of artistic vision, technical expertise, and leadership capabilities to oversee the development and implementation of VFX, shaders, lighting, animation, in-engine cinematics, and other game effects on ARM / Snapdragon based hardware.

The Lead Technical Artist will play a crucial role in shaping our pipeline, optimizing performance across multiple platforms, and ensuring artistic excellence through innovative solutions.

This is a 1099 contract role.

Role and Responsibilities

• Technical Art Direction: Define and drive the visual and technical standards for the technical art team, ensuring high-quality implementation of VFX, shaders, lighting, and other game assets optimized for ARM / Snapdragon silicon.
• Pipeline Optimization & Development: Design and maintain efficient workflows, tools, and asset pipelines to enhance the efficiency of the art team, leveraging scripting and automation when necessary.
• Shader & Material Development: Lead the creation of complex shaders and materials to achieve desired visual effects while maintaining performance on mobile devices.
• Performance Optimization: Identify and resolve rendering and performance bottlenecks, collaborating with engineers to optimize assets and ensure smooth gameplay across target hardware.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with designers, engineers, and artists to translate creative visions into technically sound implementations within Unity.
• Mentorship & Team Leadership: Guide, mentor, and support junior and mid-level technical artists, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team culture.
• Innovation & Problem Solving: Research and implement cutting-edge techniques in real-time rendering, procedural content generation, and other emerging trends to keep Dreamscape Learn at the forefront of immersive learning experiences.
• Asset Integration & Validation: Oversee the integration of 3D models, textures, animations, and other assets, ensuring consistency, quality, and technical feasibility.

• 5+ years of experience as a Technical Artist on mobile, android-based VR, or a related industry, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Expert proficiency in Unity, Houdini, Maya (or equivalent 3D software), Photoshop, and industry-standard tools.
• Hands-on experience with mobile VR platforms (e.g., Quest) and demonstrated ability to establish efficient workflows that scale content from mobile to PC —bonus points if you've built pipelines from scratch in a fast-moving startup environment.
• Advanced knowledge of shader programming (HLSL, Shader Graph), procedural art generation, lighting techniques, and rendering pipelines.
• Strong programming and scripting skills in C# and Python to develop custom tools, shaders, and automation solutions.
• Deep understanding of real-time rendering, optimization techniques, and best practices for both high-end and low-end hardware platforms.
• Experience in developing, maintaining, and improving art pipelines, including procedural workflows and tool development.
• Strong leadership, mentorship, and communication skills, with a proven track record of guiding teams toward creative and technical excellence.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges related to art integration and performance optimization.
• Passion for innovation and pushing the boundaries of real-time interactive experiences in VR and immersive learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience creating assets optimized for both high-end and low-end devices, ensuring performance and visual quality across various platforms.
• Experience working with VR environments and real-time applications.
• Knowledge of procedural content generation techniques using Houdini or other similar tools.
• Experience with machine learning or AI-driven content creation for real-time applications.
• Familiarity with animation rigging, IK systems, and character pipelines.

Monthly rate: $8,500-$10,800 (DOE)

Dreamscape Learn is firmly committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from all eligible candidates.