This job listing expired on Dec 14, 2020
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The Initiative is a new first-party game studio located in Santa Monica backed by Microsoft. Our studio is about craft, creating story, innovating, and looking ahead to the next big thing.  

At the Initiative, we are looking for collaborative problem solvers who want to dive into something new and create groundbreaking experiences for our players. Join us for this once in a career opportunity to help build the studio, define our culture, and create an environment to attract world-class talent.  

We are looking for a Lead FX Artist to develop our FX pipeline and create immersive game experiences and push the boundaries of real-time FX.  As a successful FX Artist, you will be able to step into a start-up environment and will come ready-equipped with the experience and tenacity to concept stunning FX, champion quality, and continuously seek opportunities to inspire, realize, and improve visuals. The ideal candidate is both an outstanding FX Artist and a great leader - a veteran who possesses a strong understanding of FX fundamentals, a great production sense and the creative & technical prowess to create beautiful FX. Someone with care and empathy for the team, whose goal is to empower others and support and drive the team to achieve their best work.

As an experienced FX Artist, you will work directly with the art and design team and other key stakeholders across disciplines to deliver the following:   

Responsibilities

  • Work with the Director and Leads to understand the big picture goals of the project and create industry leading FX across the game.
  • Using cutting-edge effects techniques, create all types of photorealistic, high quality effects for environments and dynamic objects. Create new effect textures from scratch and, where possible, improve on existing ones.
  • Concept, prototype, present new effects, dynamic environments, objects; partner with internal and external teams to ensure visual quality bar is met.
  • Develop and drive FX pipeline and partner with external vendors.
  • Work closely with artists, animators, designers, and engineers to produce a cohesive game experience.
  • Optimize effects to run efficiently within the game while maintaining high quality standards.
  • Actively contribute to growth of new start up studio. Lead by example, including demonstrating a willingness to give and receive feedback, collaborate with others to share techniques, ideas, and contribute to a positive working environment.

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of experience producing FX in real-time game engines
  • 1+ years’ experience in leadership and/or people management, including building VFX pipeline
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Photoshop, Maya, Houdini

Preferred Qualifications

  • Exceptional portfolio of FX artwork, including significant real-time work.
  • A Bachelor's degree or diploma, an emphasis in Art preferred.
  • 1 or more shipped game titles, preferably as Lead FX Artist.
  • Experience managing a team of artists/FX Artists.
  • Deep understanding of modern-day real-time FX systems, engines and technology.
  • Strong knowledge of real-time particle systems, compositing and rendering techniques.
  • Ability to showcase outstanding use of fluid dynamics, timing, animation, color and lighting in the creation of photorealistic, high quality effects for environments and dynamic objects
  • Experience and understanding of managing FX performance & memory budgets in real-time engines.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively - must be open to direction and able to embrace and manage others through change.
  • Solid understanding of physics, motion and animation, including weighting, scale and timing
  • Game scripting experience is a plus
  • Houdini experience is a plus

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.