Technical Art Director, Gaming

WHO WE ARE

Pixel Vault is a media group focused on elevating crypto-native assets across a variety of mediums through the development of intellectual property, as we build alongside the community. Through blockchain gaming, comics, and other mediums, our team uses storytelling to bring life to on-chain digital assets for the benefit of stakeholders and the broader crypto community — and we have fun doing it!

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Technical Art Director to lead the artistic vision and oversee the technical aspects of our game development.

The ideal candidate is a creative leader with a strong technical background in gaming platforms including Unity, and has 5+ years of experience in a senior art role within the gaming industry with at least 2 years in a directorial position.

As Technical Art Director, you will work alongside experienced professionals in game design and development to create captivating, blockchain-driven gaming experiences. This role requires a deep understanding of Unity, game development pipelines, animation rigging, gaming VFX, and a passion for creating visually stunning gaming experiences. 

You will report directly to the VP of Blockchain Gaming & Tokenomics, and you will collaborate closely with the Lead Producer and Lead Designer, as well as various UI/UX designers.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Artistic Vision: Drive the artistic direction for our games, leading a team of artists and technical experts to ensure visually captivating gaming experiences
• Hands-on Artistic Talent: Readily able to pick up a digital pencil or paintbrush, to illustrate or overpaint when needed, for mockups, concepts, and even production-ready assets
• Technical Expertise in Unity: Integrate art assets, animation rigging, and gaming VFX seamlessly within Unity-based games, optimizing for technical and visual excellence
• Animation Rigging & VFX Implementation: Oversee the implementation of animation rigging and gaming VFX, ensuring smooth integration and high-quality output in Unity games
• Collaboration with UX Designers: Work closely with UX designers to ensure the artistic vision aligns with an exceptional player experience, optimizing the interface between visuals and user interaction
• Pipeline Development & Unity Optimization: Develop and refine art pipelines, establishing efficient workflows and ensuring the smooth integration of art assets, animation, and VFX within Unity's framework
• Quality Assurance: Maintain high standards for art assets, animation, and VFX, ensuring they meet both artistic brilliance and technical specifications
• Innovation & Unity Research: Stay current with the latest Unity tools and advancements, integrating innovations to enhance art direction and technical implementation in Unity game development environments

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in a senior art role within the gaming industry, with at least 2 years in a directorial position
• Proficiency in Unity along with expertise in art software tools such as PhotoShop, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, etc., coupled with a solid understanding of real-time rendering, character animation rigging, and VFX
• A comprehensive understanding of Unity's optimization capabilities and limitations, ensuring art and VFX assets are as lean as possible without compromising the visual integrity of the game
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, fostering a collaborative work environment while driving creative excellence
• Strong problem-solving skills to innovate and adapt within technical constraints without compromising artistic integrity
• Excellent communication skills to effectively convey complex technical concepts to non-technical team members

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Senior art direction experience for games with an advanced understanding of character animation rigging and VFX
• Familiarity with the latest advancements in Unity game development tools and technology, especially in animation and VFX implementation
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative, remote working environment
• Has worked on a multi-person team, on a medium/large scale project using Unity

If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of art and technology in gaming, and leveraging Unity's power to create visually stunning, immersive gaming experiences, come join us in shaping the future of gaming.

LOCATION

• This position is fully remote. US-based and international candidates are welcome to apply.

The compensation for this role is structured with a base annual salary ranging between $105K - 135K USD. The actual annual salary paid for this position will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, skills, prior experiences, training, company needs, and current market demands.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 100% remote
• Localized comprehensive health benefits
• Unlimited Discretionary Time Off 
• Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance  
• Stipends for Wellness, Home Office, Professional Development, Crypto/Blockchain Conferences

Pixel Vault is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or nationality. In addition, Pixel Vault acknowledges that the tech industry lacks opportunities for those in underrepresented demographics. We are committed to creating a diverse team because diversity builds better products. We encourage candidates to ask questions about our diversity and inclusion values and efforts.