As a Technical Artist, you will focus on supporting artists with art asset prototypes so they can realize their work in-game. You will work with artists across all departments from modeling to lighting to ensure all assets work within the scope of the technical pipeline requirements. Working closely with each artistic department, you will standardize and improve development processes for the production of in game assets, materials, shaders, and scalable development pipelines.

As a Technical Artist II on the R&D Technical Art Team, you will focus on supporting artists with shaders, materials, and art asset prototypes so they can realize their work in-game. You will work with artists across all departments from modeling to VFX to ensure all assets work within the scope of the technical pipeline requirements. Working closely with each artistic department, you will standardize and improve development processes for the production of assets, materials, shaders, LODs, and interactions in the pipeline. 

Responsibilities: Support artists with look development as it pertains to shaders and materials Provide technical support to artists and collect data to further improve the tools they use Collaborate with production to develop a long-term strategy to maintain and evolve the art workflows for your product Build close relationships with the artists and engineers you work alongside with to understand their needs and provide leadership on tool and pipeline development Maintain and extend core functionalities of existing shaders and shader libraries Work with artists in debugging lighting (realtime and baked) as needed Required Qualifications:  3+ years of professional experience as a technical artist in games or related industries Professional experience in Unity/Unreal workflows and best practices Professional experience in mobile and or AAA development Strong art skills and deep understanding of modeling, shaders, texturing, and lighting for games Desired Qualifications: Expertise in content creation and tool development in DCC tools, especially Maya, Photoshop, and Substance Designer/Painter Previous experience with stylized content pipelines and understanding of tradeoffs we’ve made historically Solid camera and lighting know-how (exposure, LUTs, Sunny16, lenses and misc. Camera techniques).

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!

 

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application.

 

It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.