Lead VFX Artist

Company Description
To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers – this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!
Job Description
CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Lead VFX Artist to join our studio in Boston to work on Cyberpunk 2, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise. This candidate will bring their years of expertise, stellar leadership skills, meticulous attention to detail, and passion for creating world class assets to help drive the next generation of high fidelity VFX in games.
Responsibilities
* Manage a team of high performing VFX artists.
* Create high-quality, real-time visual effects: explosions, fire, smoke, clouds, weapons FX, debris, and weather elements.
* Mentor VFX artists, fostering a culture of creativity, trust, and technical excellence.
* Collaborate across multiple disciplines to support gameplay, cinematics, and environments with best-in-class VFX.
* Drive innovation and research new workflows, tools, and techniques to push the boundaries of real-time VFX.
* Ensure VFX content produced by the team is performant and within technical budgets.
* Write and prepare briefs for outsourced work, provide feedback, and maintain quality standards.
* Partner with Directors and Production to strategically plan and estimate work, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
Qualifications
* 10+ years of experience in the gaming industry, with a focus on real-time VFX creation.
* Proven leadership experience, with a track record of mentoring and developing talent.
* Expertise in both real-time and baked simulations.
* Strong knowledge of VFX tools and pipelines (Houdini, Max, Maya, etc.).
* Solid understanding of PBR concepts, real-time rendering techniques, shaders, and lighting.
* Deep knowledge of performance and optimization for real-time VFX.
* Experience working independently to identify, own, and deliver high-impact work.
* Strong knowledge of SideFX Houdini
* Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
* A strong portfolio that demonstrates mastery in VFX creation for games.
Additional Information
The application window for this position will close by 04/30/2026.
This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.
Remote roles in the US are only available to candidates that reside in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.
Health & Well-Being
* Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
* Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
* Paid leave – 20 days of holiday per year (26 days after two years).
* 401K with employer matching.
* Gym Membership Reimbursement.
* Menstrual leave – employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
* RED Parents Network – support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.
Perks & Professional Growth
* Flexible working hours.
* Trainings, lectures, and courses – internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
* A welcome pack filled with goodies – to help you feel right at home once you join the team.
Life in the Office
* Dog-friendly office – bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
* Truly international working environment – a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
* No dress-code – we like to keep it casual.
This position is a new role.
Estimated pay range for this position: $143,000 – $218,500 USD annually
This role may also be eligible for discretionary stock options.
At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.
If you’ve observed any irregularities (i.e. legal or ethical violations) in our recruitment process, please click here to report them anonymously.
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