Lead Technical Artist

Job Posting Title:

Lead Technical Artist

Req ID:

10140070

Job Description:

ILM builds interactive experiences for Virtual and Augmented Reality and other emerging platforms. Our mission is to tell stories in new ways that leverage real-time graphics on ultra high-end hardware. We combine techniques from film VFX production with techniques from the video game industry to produce real-time experiences of the highest fidelity. We are looking for a visionary and experienced Lead Technical Artist to bridge the gap between art and engineering and drive technical innovation across our diverse projects. 

The Lead Technical Artist is a crucial senior member of our development team and requires a unique blend of leadership, artistic sensibility, and deep technical expertise, especially in optimizing complex visuals for performance-sensitive hardware. 

What you’ll do 

• Lead by example in designing, authoring, and implementing complex, high-performance, and visually stunning real-time shaders and materials (e.g., subsurface scattering, advanced water/weather effects, unique material layering systems) within a game engine such as Unreal Engine 

• Drive the look development and final aesthetic quality for key characters, props, and environments, ensuring consistency with the Art Director’s vision. 

• Profile and optimize existing and new shaders to meet demanding performance and memory budgets across all target platforms without compromising visual fidelity. 

• Act as a key resource on Physically Based Rendering (PBR) principles, material calibration, and texture authoring best practices. 

• Identify bottlenecks in the art production pipeline related to materials, texturing, and shading, and proactively develop robust solutions. 

• Write and maintain tools/scripts (e.g., in Python or similar languages) to automate material assignment, streamline shader iteration, and improve artist workflows. 

• Collaborate directly with Graphics Engineers to research and integrate new rendering features and techniques into the production pipeline. 

What we’re looking for 

• 7+ years of experience - with at least 2 years in a Lead or Senior role - in game development, film, AR/VR, immersive entertainment, or related fields 

• Expert-level proficiency in a node-based shader development environment (e.g., Unreal Engine's Material Editor, Unity's Shader Graph, Substance Designer).

• Deep understanding of real-time rendering pipelines and modern rendering techniques (Deferred, Forward+, Ray Tracing). 

• Strong foundation in Computer Graphics theory, especially Physically Based Rendering (PBR) principles, lighting, and color theory. 

• Proficiency in at least one shader language (HLSL/GLSL/Cg) is highly desirable for custom shader implementation. 

• Experience with Python, Mel, or C# for tool development and pipeline scripting. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas to both artists and engineers. 

Bonus points for: 

• Experience with Houdini for procedural asset generation or VFX integration. 

• Experience with advanced rendering features like hardware Ray Tracing, Lumen, or Nanite.

• Familiarity with photogrammetry workflows and material capture techniques. 

• Experience with proprietary engine pipelines or building custom rendering features.

The hiring range for this position in Orem, UT is $130,800 to $167,400 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ILM San Francisco

Job Posting Primary Business:

ILM San Francisco

Primary Job Posting Category:

Technical Artist - Studios

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Remote Worker Location, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-01-16