VFX Artist (Expression of Interest)

Job description

VFX Artists at BSG create effects that bring energy, atmosphere, and clarity to the player experience. From character abilities and combat interactions to environmental effects, their work connects artistic expression with gameplay functionality. If your experience aligns with this work, we welcome your interest in potential upcoming opportunities. Supported by senior VFX artists and project leads, you will create, implement, and refine real-time visual effects that meet each project’s artistic direction and technical requirements. Working with artists, designers, technical artists, and engineers, you will develop effects that communicate gameplay, strengthen immersion, and perform effectively within the game. The scope of asset ownership, pipeline development, and technical contribution will reflect your experience and demonstrated capabilities. These opportunities are for full-time, temporary positions based in Manizales, Colombia, with a fully onsite requirement at our studio. Role and Responsibilities Create and implement high-quality real-time VFX, including particle systems, shaders, textures, geometry, and animated elements. Develop effects that support gameplay readability, storytelling, and the project’s visual style. Simulate believable dynamics and create effects suited to the project’s artistic direction, including realistic or stylized treatments. Collaborate with designers to develop effects for combat, character abilities, environmental interactions, and other gameplay systems. Balance visual quality with performance requirements and platform limitations. Work with engineers and technical artists to troubleshoot VFX issues and resolve implementation challenges. Contribute to tools, workflows, and processes that improve the VFX production pipeline. Adapt assets and workflows to established or proprietary game pipelines. Maintain organized assets in source control and follow project naming, documentation, and submission standards. Communicate progress, dependencies, and potential obstacles to project leads and production. Incorporate feedback efficiently while maintaining visual consistency and quality. Continue developing knowledge of VFX tools, industry techniques, and traditional art principles. Support other relevant project and department responsibilities as needed. Qualifications and Education Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Art, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. At least two years of professional experience in VFX production. Contribution to at least one shipped AAA title as a VFX or FX Artist. A portfolio or demo reel demonstrating strong real-time VFX, visual judgment, and technical understanding. Understanding of VFX production pipelines and the performance constraints of real-time game development. Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage assignments, meet deadlines, and respond constructively to feedback. Preferred Skills Production-level proficiency in a 3D application such as Maya or 3ds Max. Production-level knowledge of Houdini. Experience with simulation tools such as Maya nCloth, FumeFX, EmberGen, or Houdini Pyro. Experience creating and implementing VFX within game engines. Ability to create textures using Photoshop or Substance Designer. Experience authoring VFX elements and sprite flipbooks using After Effects, Nuke, or comparable compositing tools. Understanding of shaders and materials as they apply to real-time VFX. Comfort working with node-based systems, scripts, and proprietary tools. A passion for games and the role visual effects play in the player experience. Additional Valuable Experience Developing VFX in Unreal Engine 5 or Unity. Creating and optimizing VFX for modern consoles and PC. Profiling VFX performance using engine and in-game tools. Developing tools or automating workflows using Python, MEL, or similar scripting languages. Using Perforce for source control. Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Eligibility for benefits and perks may vary based on position, employment status, and location. Notice to Job Applicants: As part of the application process, certain personal information is collected, and submission of your application is considered your acknowledgment that you have read and understand our policies applicable to such process and consent to the collection and processing of your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. To review our policies, please visit our [ website ] and click [“ Privacy ”]. At Blind Squirrel Games (BSG), creating exceptional games is just the start. As a proud, independent studio, we collaborate with developers and publishers who value innovation and excellence, serving as a trusted partner in bringing high-quality games to life. Our work spans ports, co-development, and full game development, each with its own creative and technical demands. With studios in Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; Auckland, New Zealand; and Manizales, Colombia, we bring together global talent to build outstanding games. Guided by the Blind Squirrel Way, the standard for how we work, our teams operate with ownership, accountability, and collaboration. People are central to our success. We prioritize an inquisitive, proactive, and collaborative environment where individuals can make meaningful contributions. We value skills and experience while recognizing that talent develops through hard work, resilience, and a commitment to growth. We welcome diverse perspectives and believe inclusion strengthens our teams, our ideas, and our work.