Blizzard Entertainment - FX Artist TEMP

Game Designer is needed in Santa Monica, United States.

Client: Blizzard Entertainment

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Contract: Temporary

Job Description:

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a talented FX Artist to assist our cinematics team in creating the next generation of our award-winning animated films and In-Game Cinematics.

You will work in partnership with modelers, animators, texture artists, lighters, compositors, and the various games teams to ensure FX are delivered to the highest standard. You have experience creating simulations and systems that mimic real-life phenomena such as smoke, fire, and water. You’ll also need to have strong art skills to help design and implement abstract magical and technological effects. Basic compositing skills will be required for FX slap-comps for review by the supervision team. Lastly, your strong background with procedural tools, methodologies and game engines are a plus.

Requirements:

• Extensive experience with particle systems, fluid dynamics, rigid body dynamics, and procedural systems
• Proven track record creating effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam, explosions, magic, etc.
• Experience with node-based compositing software such as Nuke
• Able to problem solve both technically and creatively in a collaborative environment with directors / art directors.
• Able to stay current with the latest tools, technologies, and techniques.
• Experience with real-time VFX within a modern Game Engine. (ex: Unreal, and Unity)
• Experience using PDG to execute caching and rendering processes.

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a professional Gaming/Animation/VFX company producing feature film quality effects in Houdini.
• A good understanding of physical dynamics and natural phenomena as demonstrated by your portfolio.
• Familiar with feature film level pipelines and their respective issues

Pluses:

• Experience with VEX
• Experience with C++ or Python
• Working Knowledge of Houdini’s Solaris lighting context (LOPS) and Karma, Mantra, RenderMan or Redshift renderers.
• Shipped an AAA game title.

Submission / Portfolio Requirements:

• Resume (PDF Preferred)
• Cover letter (Optional)
• Online demo reel and reel breakdown

Additional Information:

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all the qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

About Blizzard Entertainment:

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we’ve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We’re on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard “secret recipe,” but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us.

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards:

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part-time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $44.67 - $82.60 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.