At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning VFX from concept to in-game implementation using Unity.
- Company: Join a dynamic new games studio with a passion for innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative freedom, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on creativity and player experience.
- Why this job: Shape the visual experience of exciting new games and make an impact.
- Qualifications: Strong Unity skills and a portfolio showcasing high-quality VFX.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
New Games Studio is looking for a highly skilled Principal VFX Artist to join us. This is a senior, hands‑on and creative role for someone who can take visual effects from ideation to final in‑game implementation. You will help define, design, build, and polish the VFX language of the game, working closely with art, design, tech art, engineering, and production.
We are looking for someone who combines strong artistic judgment with deep hands‑on Unity experience. You should be able to generate ideas, explore visual directions, create effects directly in‑engine, and push them to a high level of polish. You are self‑driven, well organized, and comfortable taking ownership without needing close day‑to‑day direction. You should be able to understand the needs of the game, identify what needs to be done, and push visual quality forward while staying mindful of performance, production realities, and the overall player experience.
Your role within our Kingdom:
- Create high‑quality VFX from ideation, concept, and visual exploration through to final implementation in Unity.
- Design and implement gameplay, UI, environmental, feedback, and celebratory effects that support the game’s visual direction.
- Bring your own creative ideas to the table and help shape how the project feels in motion.
- Work hands‑on with modern Unity VFX workflows, including Particle System, Shader Graph, VFX Graph, URP, custom materials, and animation‑driven effects.
- Translate concepts, art direction, prototypes, gameplay needs, and rough ideas into clear, polished in‑engine effects.
- Own VFX implementation for features, collaborating closely with designers, artists, technical artists, and programmers.
- Optimize VFX for mobile, balancing visual ambition with performance, memory, readability, and production constraints.
- Identify VFX‑related visual, technical, and workflow bottlenecks, and propose practical solutions.
- Help define VFX best practices, workflows, naming conventions, asset organization, and implementation standards.
- Collaborate with tech art and engineering on shaders, tools, profiling, and runtime performance.
Skills to create thrills:
We are looking for a Principal VFX artist with strong artistic judgment, excellent craft skills, creative ownership, and deep hands‑on experience creating effects in Unity. You have:
- Significant experience creating real‑time VFX for games, ideally for casual, mobile, or highly polished free‑to‑play titles.
- Strong hands‑on experience making VFX directly in Unity.
- A strong portfolio showing high‑quality in‑game VFX from idea to final implementation.
- Ability to create VFX from early ideation, concept, mood boards, mockups, prototypes, or rough direction and turn them into polished in‑engine results.
- Strong creative instincts and the ability to propose effects that improve game feel, readability, reward, and emotional impact.
- Strong understanding of mobile performance constraints and optimization techniques.
- Ability to troubleshoot visual bugs, sorting issues, and performance problems.
- Strong collaboration skills across art, design, technical art, engineering, and production.
- A proactive, organized, and self‑driven approach to your work.
What makes you successful in this role:
You are not waiting for tasks to be assigned. You look at the game, understand what it needs, and help raise the bar. You are comfortable owning a feature’s VFX from start to finish: shaping the idea, exploring the visual direction, implementing it in Unity, polishing it, and keeping stakeholders informed and aligned. You can explain your creative and technical choices clearly, take feedback well, and help the team make better visual decisions. Most importantly, you make the game feel better and the player feel rewarded.
Portfolio requirement:
A portfolio in English is required. Your portfolio should show strong examples of real‑time VFX work, ideally including in‑engine Unity implementation. We are especially interested in seeing examples that demonstrate experience in casual games, creative ownership, and your ability to take an effect from idea to final in‑game result.
Principal VFX Artist | Unannounced Title, New Games employer: King
At New Games Studio, we pride ourselves on fostering a creative and collaborative work environment where innovation thrives. As a Principal VFX Artist, you will have the opportunity to shape the visual language of our games while working alongside talented professionals in a supportive atmosphere that encourages artistic growth and exploration. Located in a vibrant area, we offer competitive benefits, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to your professional development, making us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the gaming industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal VFX Artist | Unannounced Title, New Games
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in tip-top shape! Make sure it showcases your best VFX work, especially those that highlight your Unity skills. Remember, we want to see your journey from concept to final implementation.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow artists and industry professionals on platforms like LinkedIn or Discord. Engaging with the community can lead to opportunities and insider tips that might just land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and creative processes. Be ready to discuss how you approach VFX creation in Unity and share examples of how you've tackled challenges in past projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our exciting new games.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal VFX Artist | Unannounced Title, New Games
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Best Work:Make sure your portfolio is top-notch! Highlight your best VFX work, especially those that show your journey from concept to final implementation in Unity. We want to see your creative flair and technical skills shine through!
Tailor Your Application:When applying, tailor your application to reflect the job description. Use keywords from the listing to demonstrate how your experience aligns with what we’re looking for. This helps us see you as a perfect fit for our team!
Be Clear and Concise:In your written application, be clear and concise about your experience and skills. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the point, so don’t be afraid to show us what you can do without fluff!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at King
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure your portfolio is up to date and highlights your best real-time VFX work, especially in Unity. Include examples that demonstrate your creative ownership and ability to take effects from ideation to final implementation.
✨Understand the Game's Needs
Before the interview, play any available demos or similar games to understand what makes them visually appealing. Be ready to discuss how you can elevate the game's visual quality and player experience based on your observations.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Brush up on your knowledge of Unity VFX workflows, including Particle System and Shader Graph. Be prepared to discuss optimisation techniques for mobile platforms and how you would troubleshoot common visual bugs.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with designers, artists, and engineers. Be ready to share how you’ve contributed to a team environment and how you handle feedback to improve visual outcomes.