Incubation Lead VFX Artist

Are you on a mission to create games that bond players together into deeply invested communities? Would you like to work on something comedic AND action packed with lighthearted and whimsical characters? Do you think a lot about how particle timing impacts gameplay feel, how to mix shader nodes for just the right effect, or how perfectly tuned visuals empower players? Do you analyze, break down, and recreate the best VFX from your favorite games?

As a Lead VFX Artist on an Unannounced Incubation Project, you'll bring fun character abilities and wonderful worlds to life from prototype through production for a completely new IP. Bungie is looking for a VFX Art Lead who can lead and inspire a team to craft layered, expressive visual effects with an eye for gameplay readability that will delight players and contribute to the best-in-class action experience that defines all Bungie games.

As a member of our tight-knit art team, you'll balance craft expertise with a player-first mindset and willingness to contribute beyond your role to improve player experience wherever necessary. Most importantly, you will collaborate with a fun, diverse, and passionate cross-discipline team devoted to building a new universe from scratch at Bungie, and facilitate the communication between Design, Animation, Audio, and Narrative, as well as Art, Design, and Creative direction.

We look for candidates who value joining a cohesive, supportive team with a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and viewpoints.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and build an amazing and creative team of VFX Artists in the creation of content through all phases of production on a cross-discipline small team

Manage, mentor, and inspire team members with clear direction and promote a culture of collaborative innovation

Lead frequent, constructive, and motivational feedback sessions with VFX Artists to assist them in creating amazing VFX

Partner with production on project estimates and deliverables, ensuring quality, and mitigating risk

Develop a game-wide visual effects style with personality and charm that still communicate clearly to players

Set the example by creating content can be used as a calibration of quality bar for VFX

Explore fun possibilities for visual language that fit established art direction and gameplay

Work closely with Tech Art and Engineering to define efficient workflows and pipelines for VFX Artists

Sync with the Art Director to align on visual effects goals and project quality bar

Collaborate with Design to achieve clear and expressive action gameplay

Offer constructive feedback during art team content reviews

REQUIRED SKILLS

Experience working as a VFX Lead/VFX Artist on shipped game titles with high complexity

Ability to craft stylized gameplay vfx, as shown by examples of professional or personal work

Proven eye for creating gameplay clarity through visual effects, especially for action games

Expert knowledge of artistic and technical workflows for creating real- time vfx

Working understanding of art and animation fundamentals (color theory, timing, etc.)

Outstanding ability to problem-solve and drive creative solutions despite ambiguity

A VFX portfolio or demo reel that demonstrates artistic and technical skills, timing, and scale

Embrace “we” culture in addition to being an outstanding collaborator and communicator

NICE-TO-HAVE SKILLS

Experience with development using commercial game engines such as Unreal Engine/Unity/Source

Experience with Fume FX, EmberGen, Maya Fluids, Substance Designer, or Houdini

Programming or scripting experience in any language (C++ / Python / HLSL)

Familiarity with the competitive gaming landscape

Familiar with principles of animation such as squash & stretch, smear frames, and multiples

Listed below is this role's base pay range. In other locations that Bungie has approved for remote work, this pay range may be adjusted up to +/- 10% and some roles may be classified as non-exempt (hourly).

This range is determined by an array of factors, including training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, and market demands. Additionally, it is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

In the journey to make incredible worlds, Bungie employees don't simply do meaningful work - they receive meaningful support. Competitive salaries and discretionary bonus opportunities are just the start. We offer comprehensive healthcare coverage, generous 401(k) matching, flexible time off policies, paid parental leave, social clubs, and so much more. Check out our benefits page: Benefits - Bungie Careers to see all the perks that come with joining Bungie.

Bellevue Pay Range

$127,000—$170,000 USD

Bungie full-time (non-contract) employees in the U.S. also receive:

20 days of accrued time-off in the form of PTO and sabbatical days, depending on the level of the position

10 paid Floating Days annually, prorated in the first year of employment based on start date

10 paid Bungie-observed holidays annually

One hour of Paid Sick Time (PST) for every 30 hours worked

Contract and International FTE employees receive competitive benefits through their relevant contracting agency.

So you don't meet every requirement listed in this job description? Do you think your experience level is not where it needs to be? Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification. Bungie is focused on building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. If you're interested in this position but your past experience doesn't line up perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we want you to apply anyway. The right role for you may be right around the corner!

Most Bungie full-time employees will adopt a digital first approach allowing remote work in Bungie approved locations (outside of positions identified as 100% onsite in Bellevue/Seattle, or individuals preferring a hybrid/flex environment). Prospective full-time employees located outside of CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, or WI will need to establish residency in one of the states we are compliant in within 45 days of a start date. Contractors will follow a digital first approach adhering to the location guidelines agreed upon by our third-party employer/vendor and Bungie. Bungie's remote policy is subject to change at the company's discretion.