Simulation Artist

Job Description

Simulation Artist (Contract)

Join the award-winning team that created God of War

You possess the ability to effectively collaborate with a wide-range of development team members outside of your direct subject area (e.g. the Art Director, Designers, Technical Artists, Animators, Programmers, Producers) to optimally achieve artistic goals as they relate to design and technological considerations.

Responsibilities
• Serve as a high level contributor to the development of the artistic techniques and processes utilized to define and achieve a product's visual style or encourage artistic evolution within the studio. Develop an extensive knowledge of the art production pipeline and all engine, tools and systems associated with the creation of art assets.
• Maintain the artistic goals and vision through all phases of the game development cycle from pre-production through final product release. This entails ensuring environment/level assets are of the highest artistic quality and uphold the integrity of the game's design and artistic vision of the game as a whole.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of the game's design to support communication and enable early identification of issues, as well as help drive participation in discussions.
• Facilitate requests or information needs regarding any aspect of the environment/level art creation process as requested.
• Resolve an assortment of moderately complex artistic development challenges for artists as well as other team members.
• Actively improve skill set and abilities by keeping aware of industry trends and techniques, evaluating competitive products, learning new software packages and traditional art methods.
• Generate documentation for outsourcing assets, as well as the integration of assets, asset and texture optimization, and support for LOD and collision in the level design.
• Demonstrate strong time management and prioritization skills by collaborating with Production to develop task lists to ensure assignments are progressing as expected according to schedules, milestones and overall project goals.
• Clearly communicate updates and properly call out concerns to the appropriate team members and managers.

Requirements
• General understanding of level art workflow, including assembly, set dressing, lighting and asset composition across levels
• Strong traditional fine art skills, training and production experience (illustration, painting, organic forms, color theory, perspective, 2D & 3D design)
• Proficient with destruction/simulation software including Houdini, FractureFX, Bullet, PhysX, and Pulldownit
• Proficient with fluid simulation plugins/software such as Maya Fluids, Realflow, PhoenixFD, and FumeFX
• Experience with rigid body and particle dynamics
• Proficient in the use of Maya (or 3D modeling package) and Photoshop
• Strong understanding of physical dynamics and natural phenomena
• Good communication, organizational, time management and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under minimal direction to determine and develop approach to solutions
• B.A. in fine arts or relevant curriculum, or equivalent skillset
• Minimum 2 years' industry or related experience

Preferred Experience
• Z-Brush/Mudbox experience desirable
• Knowledge of Python/MEL a plus
• Generalist/rigging background a plus
• Familiarity with video game product development is desirable, including but not limited to: workflow, tools, lighting, high and low poly modeling, texture paining, surface sampling, particle systems, mapping techniques, UV layout, in-game animation, material setup, layout, sfx, and engine parameters/optimizations
• Previous or next-gen video game platform experience is desirable
• 1 or more published titles considered a strength

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gq6mqz-13-58-36-141-42 in your application.