As VFX Art Leads at Riot we guide the conception and implementation of the VFX style. In addition to providing clear direction, we implement the sleek, dynamic and dramatic special effects that add atmosphere and depth to the gameplay. We mentor and level-up the craft and game developer skills of our VFX teams, while valuing differentiation and subtlety within VFX craft. We also partner with Associate Art Directors to implement a VFX style that fits within the art pillars and punctuates the game design. We seek to implement the effects and set the high bar.
As a VFX Art Lead on the League Labs initiative, you will report to the Associate Art Director. You will support the VFX artists and artists from other disciplines, both in craft and career as we create assets that will both surprise and delight players. Your work may vary from TFT game play, TFT boards, TFT mobile, Little Legends, and League of Legends game modes. You will work closely with Product Leads, Delivery Leads, and the Associate Art Director to stay aligned on vision and priorities. You will work to quickly mediate and resolve craft disagreements and misalignments. You will prioritize the craft’s health and support, above personally contributing to art production. You will run and manage healthy and productive craft review sessions. Work closely with the VFX Art Leads on other LoL initiatives to build a ‘future forward’ workflow and consistent quality and style.
Responsibilities
- Provide direction for the VFX and art team
- Set a clear vision, provide feedback, and build trust with your team
- Balance visual satisfaction and gameplay clarity to ensure amazing effects represent a given action or state
- Craft aesthetically astounding visual effects that communicate essential game information and bring together the essence of characters
- Use your understanding of visual effects to combine brand new assets and classic designs elegantly
- Find creative solutions to eliminate hard problems in production
- Provide as-needed support of all aspects of VFX process; from set-up through production and troubleshooting
- Hold the team accountable to the creation of high-quality work and performance manage
- Level up other VFX Artists and critique their work
Required Qualifications
- 6+ years’ experience in video games industry
- Advanced skills in 3D/2D Software - Maya, Photoshop
- Experience creating high-quality, stylized real-time VFX
- High proficiency in VFX development, including fundamentals like timing, shape language, color theory and mesh engineering
- Knowledge of the MOBA genre, ideally League of Legends, as it pertains to game design, isometric content and visual clarity
Desired Qualifications
- Past leadership or management experience
- Development experience creating materials and PBR assets within modern game engines (Unreal, Unity, etc)
- Familiarity with the Auto Battler genre and League of Legends IP
- Tools experience: have worked in several tools, pipelines, and game engines.
- Experience giving direction and delivering clear, constructive feedback to vendors
As a part of the application process, you will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of your work and may be asked to complete an art test.
Our Perks
We offer medical, dental, and vision plans that cover you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children. Life insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage are also available. Riot will support your retirement benefits with a company match, and double down on your donations of time and money to non-profit charitable organizations. Balance between work and personal life is encouraged with open paid time off, and a play fund so you can broaden and deepen your personal relationship with games.
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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, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance relating to an applicant's criminal history (LAMC 189.00).