Technical Artist (contract)

As a Technical Artist at ForwardXP, your main responsibilities will involve creating standards for artistic workflows and ensuring that content maintains high quality across platforms. Collaborating closely with production, art, design, and engineering teams, you'll execute visual objectives, optimize memory performance, and leverage technology to enhance workflow efficiency.

To qualify for the Technical Artist position at ForwardXP, candidates should be proficient in communication to serve as a bridge between art and engineering. Familiarity with lighting, VFX, shaders, and content optimization, especially using Unreal and Unity engines, is essential. Additionally, experience in translating artistic requirements into sustainable workflows and knowledge of rigging and animation will be advantageous.

The work environment for the Technical Artist at ForwardXP is remote-friendly and features flexible working hours. This allows you to work in a way that suits your personal schedule, while still being part of a highly collaborative and creative team passionate about making a lasting impact in the gaming industry.

The company culture at ForwardXP is built around excellence, impact, and collaboration. As a Technical Artist, you'll find a supportive environment that values diverse voices and encourages innovation, allowing you to thrive while contributing to the creation of legendary gaming experiences.

The Technical Artist contributes by establishing artistic standards and identifying opportunities to enhance quality through technological advancements. By generating sample assets and optimizing workflows, you help ensure that every visual detail meets the high standards expected in AAA game development at ForwardXP.

When addressing performance and visual quality, I focus on optimizing assets and workflows through rigorous profiling to pinpoint bottlenecks. I also leverage lower resolution textures where feasible while ensuring artistic integrity, and I work closely with the engine team to implement efficient shaders.

Creating standards for artistic workflows involves collaborating with artists and engineers to understand their needs and challenges. I would facilitate discussions to define benchmarks, document best practices, and establish guidelines that ensure alignment across projects while enhancing productivity.

I have extensive experience with both Unreal and Unity engines, including creating and optimizing shaders, setting up lighting pipelines, and implementing VFX. My hands-on experience allows me to effectively translate artistic needs into technical solutions that maintain performance across platforms.

I prioritize regular check-ins, collaborative meetings, and transparent communication channels to foster dialogue between art and engineering. I believe that sharing objectives and concerns openly helps bridge gaps and cultivate a unified vision for the gaming experience.

My process for defining technical constraints starts with gathering input from both the art and engineering teams to understand project goals and limitations. I analyze both performance metrics and artistic vision, allowing us to set realistic expectations that inform creative decisions.

In my previous roles, I have developed and optimized VFX systems and shaders to create visually appealing effects while maintaining performance. My approach involves iterative testing to refine visual aesthetics without compromising frame rates, ensuring a balanced gaming experience.

I once faced a challenge with texture memory limits affecting visual quality in a cinematic scene. To overcome this, I suggested using mipmaps and LODs strategically to balance detail and performance, which significantly enhanced the visual impact while reducing the memory footprint.

I actively engage with industry forums, follow relevant blogs and participate in workshops and webinars. Staying connected with fellow professionals helps me discover the latest technologies and best practices, allowing me to implement the most efficient solutions at ForwardXP.

Feedback is crucial to my artistic process. I regularly seek input from colleagues and stakeholders, as it helps refine our direction and ensures the final product meets the collective vision. Constructive criticism promotes growth and enhances the quality of our projects.

I have hands-on experience with rigging and animation implementation, particularly in terms of ensuring that animated models perform optimally within the game engine. I focus on creating efficient rigs that facilitate the animator’s work while maintaining compatibility with gameplay systems.