Senior VFX Artist New

Business Unit

What the Role Entails

We are looking for a highly skilled and creative Senior VFX Artist to join our team in crafting high-fidelity, realistic visual effects for a next-generation AAA title. This role focuses on developing immersive real-time effects-from cinematic set-pieces to systemic gameplay feedback-using Unreal Engine 5, Niagara, and Houdini. The ideal candidate is fluent in both artistic expression and technical implementation, with a passion for realism, storytelling, and visual impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, prototype, and implement high-quality, realistic visual effects including but not limited to: explosions, smoke, fire, weather, debris, muzzle flashes, destruction, blood, embers, magic/tech FX, and environmental ambiance.
• Build and optimize real-time effects in UE5 using Niagara, Material Editor, and Blueprints.
• Create advanced simulations and procedural FX assets in Houdini, and integrate them seamlessly into UE5 pipelines.
• Work closely with art directors, cinematic directors, and game designers to ensure visual effects enhance gameplay clarity, narrative tone, and player immersion.
• Balance aesthetic fidelity with performance, ensuring effects run efficiently across platforms.
• Collaborate with lighting, environment, animation, and audio teams to unify VFX timing, tone, and visual cohesion.
• Troubleshoot and profile VFX performance issues across different game scenarios.
• Document workflows and contribute to building scalable, reusable FX systems and libraries.
• Mentor junior VFX artists and support team growth through feedback, best practices, and R&D.

Who We Look For

• 5+ years of professional experience in VFX production for games, with at least one shipped realistic AAA game.
• Strong proficiency with Unreal Engine 5, especially Niagara, VFX Blueprints, and Material systems.
• Solid experience with Houdini, including FX simulations, procedural asset generation, and exporting to UE5.
• Excellent artistic sense and technical understanding of real-world phenomena (e.g., fire, water, smoke, dust, impact, light interaction).
• Strong understanding of timing, anticipation, visual rhythm, and motion to create impactful, readable FX.
• Familiarity with performance optimization, LOD systems, memory/performance tradeoffs for real-time effects.
• Ability to take ownership of complex visual systems and follow them through from concept to final polish.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, with strong communication skills across disciplines.

Bonus:

• Experience in Cinematic VFX and working alongside narrative or camera teams.
• Knowledge of real-time lighting, shaders, or tech art support.
• Familiarity with FX-driven gameplay systems (e.g. status effects, ability indicators, destructible systems).
• Experience in scripting (Python, HLSL, or Niagara custom modules).

Location State(s)

US-California-Los Angeles

The expected base pay range for this position in the location(s) listed above is $94,400.00 to $223,100.00 per year. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Employees hired for this position may be eligible for a sign on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Subject to the terms and conditions of the plans in effect, hired applicants are also eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, and participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan. The Employee is also eligible for up to 15 to 25 days of vacation per year (depending on the employee’s tenure), up to 13 days of holidays throughout the calendar year, and up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year. Your benefits may be adjusted to reflect your location, employment status, duration of employment with the company, and position level. Benefits may also be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.