Principal Technical Artist

As Principal Technical Artist you are expected to hold a wealth of knowledge in dealing with the technical issues around content creation for video games. Have a proven track record of resolving the most complex and broad-reaching challenges in relationship to content construction and take an active role in developing and maintaining pipelines, while also supporting the team to deliver cutting edge visuals.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees game performance, defines technical limits, tracks and communicates performance statistics and ensures the relevant teams adhere to these targets.
• Extensive knowledge of game engines like Unreal and previous experience working with proprietary engines including creation of new tools to support content creation or pipeline development.
• Works with art and tech art leadership with regards to planning and implementing solutions that support content creation and enhance visual quality with performance in mind.
• Proactively raise technical concerns, performance bottlenecks and defines strategies and mitigations.
• Offer day to day technical support to the content creators on the team.
• Extensive knowledge of DCC software like Max, Maya, Houdini, Blender, Substance.
• Building and managing tools and pipelines, including aiding content through from DCC packages into the game engine.
• Comfortable with developing tools and workflow enhancements using scripting languages like Python or C# and GUI libraries like PySide.
• Able to effectively share experience and expertise to mentor more junior team members.
• Understands emerging trends and technologies within videogames and make strategic recommendations as to how they may benefit or impact the project, organization or the technical art team.
• Shipped one or more AAA games as a Principal Technical Artist.
• Shipped a project using Unreal Engine 5 and has a solid understanding of identifying performance bottlenecks.
• Expert understanding of modern game content creation processes, including specifically authoring content that is Nanite and Lumen compliant and to budget constraints.
• Expert understanding of deploying and profiling of content in builds.
• Experience with Unreal Insights, PIX/RenderDoc.
• Experience with Shader/material optimisation and methods to reduce cost, especially in relation to Nanite, Lumen and Virtual Shadow Maps.
• Knowledge working with foliage, defining authoring guidelines and constructing pipelines in Unreal Engine 5 a plus.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• A passion for video games.

Studio Gobo is an established AAA games studio, part of the Keywords family. Our team has worked on multiple world class projects for companies such as Guerrilla Games, Arkane, Warner Bros, Ubisoft, Disney and Tencent.

Benefits

• Full Chefs Kitchen & Equipment – Free use of a large full‑size chef’s kitchen for snacks or cooking.
• World Famous Free Lunches – Weekly studio lunch cooked in‑house by our chef with meat, vegan and gluten free options.
• Fresh Fruit & Healthy Snacks – Provided daily with a suggestion board for new treats.
• Pastries, Cakes & Doughnuts – For the odd naughty pleasure.
• Soft Drinks Fridge – A large range of free chilled soft drinks.
• Gobo Beer & Wine Fridge – Free beers, ales, wine and even the odd gin and tonic.
• In‑house Social Clubs – Clubs for D&D fans, board games, bouldering, drawing nights, yoga, cooking club and more.
• Extensive Video Game & Book Library – Borrow a game, a book or even a whole console.
• Spacious Industrial Chic Studio Space – An inspiring environment that boosts productivity.
• Dogs with Jobs – Studio Gobo is a dog‑friendly employer.
• Project Wrap Parties, Cinema Nights & Team Nights Out – Social events throughout the year.
• Monthly Studio Social Nights – Monthly company‑hosted events with food, drinks and games.
• Summer Festival – Year‑end summer celebration with fun amenities.
• Holidays – 22 days’ annual leave entitlement, plus 3 days’ studio closure over the Christmas period, giving a total of 25 days paid annual leave plus all 8 UK bank holidays.
• Bonus Anniversary Holidays – An additional day of annual leave for each year’s anniversary, up to a maximum of 5 extra days.
• Generous Annual Bonuses.
• Visa & Relocation Package – For qualified employees, visa costs paid and a relocation allowance.
• Company Pension Scheme – Employer contribution matching scheme provided by NEST.
• Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme – Full private medical cover provided by BUPA Private Healthcare.
• Group Life Insurance.
• Private Dental Insurance Scheme – Full private dental cover under the company scheme.
• Group Income Protection.
• EAP – Employee Assistance Program for personal or work‑related wellbeing.
• Volunteer Time Off – One day per year of full pay volunteering for a chosen non‑profit.
• Cycle & Tech Scheme – Up to £3,000 worth of goodies as part of a salary sacrifice scheme.
• Eye‑care Vouchers – Free eye tests.
• Train Travel Season Ticket Loan – Interest‑free company loan for season ticket cost.
• Health and Wellbeing Allowance – £50 per month for healthy activities.
• Fast Growing Studio – Plenty of room for career advancement.
• Industry Conferences Budget – Annual budget for attending conferences such as GDC, E3, SIGGRAPH, THU, Develop.

Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well‑established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavour to create a workplace that provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.