Principal VFX Artist

The Role:
Creative Assembly is looking for an experienced Principal VFX Artist to join our Total War team based at our studio in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex. 
 

In this new role, you will help define the VFX quality bar for our Total War products, mentor our VFX team, and collaborate with our core technology groups to develop proprietary tools and pipelines. 
 
An excellent communicator and organiser, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, performant visuals across our projects. 

What you’ll be doing
Key Responsibilities:

• Inspire and guide the VFX team to create high-quality, performant visuals. 

• Create and develop high-quality visual effects that set the artistic and technical 

• benchmark for internal teams and external partners. 

• Work closely with the VFX Lead, providing mentorship, training, and documentation while 

• continuing to grow your own skills and expertise. 

• Scope VFX work based on player value and gameplay needs, managing priorities across 

• franchise and product requirements. 

• Collaborate with Art Directors and Leads to establish VFX style guides for multiple 

• projects. 

• Partner with cross-discipline teams to build and maintain efficient pipelines. 

• Communicate effectively with Production, Artists, Designers, and Programmers. 

• Research emerging VFX technologies and plan technical roadmaps to remain competitive 

• with industry standards. 

• Work with VFX and Engine teams to maintain optimised workflows for content creation. 

What we are looking for:
Essential:

• Ability to create and implement world-class real-time VFX in a game engine.

• Excellent visual awareness and artistic ability.

• 5+ years in game development and 3+ shipped titles.

• Experience mentoring artists and supporting career development.

• Skills in modelling, texturing, lighting, and image processing.

• Strong understanding of VFX asset costs and performance impact across platforms.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Highly effective time-management and prioritisation skills.

• • Awareness of industry technology trends.

• Understanding of game development processes.

• Love of games

Knowledge of:

• Image manipulation tools (Photoshop, Substance Designer)

• 3D software (Maya, 3ds Max, or similar)

• Creating animated sprite sheets

• Particle system optimisation

• Particle system terminology and applications

• Particle editors (Unreal, Unity, or similar)

• Strong understanding of contemporary shader features and workflows.

Desirable:

• Formal art or technical training with a broad skill set.

• Experience working across a range of artistic styles.

• 2+ shipped titles as a Senior.

• Knowledge of Houdini for real-time VFX.

• Knowledge of Embergen.

• Familiarity with data management tools (SVN, Perforce).

ABOUT CREATIVE ASSEMBLY:

We care deeply about the experiences we create and put our players at the heart of our decisions. We are all game makers; no matter our role we are empowered to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.

Most roles at Creative Assembly are hybrid; what this looks like will be discussed during the interview process. For many teams, this is 3 days a week in the studio. CA has the right to change requirements based on the needs of the business.

We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

• Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)

• Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays

• Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents

• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening

• Additional benefits ranging from free games and work parties to discount on technology

• Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling

We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Our studio sites have disabled access.