POSITION SUMMARYThe Game Technical Artist III is a senior individual contributor who leads technical execution for significant systems within the art pipeline and Unity runtime. This role designs scalable workflows, builds robust tools, and resolves complex integration/performance issues. While maintaining strong 3D fundamentals (rigging, animation integration, shaders/materials), the emphasis is on engineering-first solutions that improve throughput and runtime reliability across a project.Reports to: Senior Game Art ManagerMAIN RESPONSIBILITIESThis position will be responsible for the following primary functions:
- Produce high-quality animations using animation principles for characters, environments, UI, and VFX
- Encourage and generate creative ideas and solutions with the team
- Demonstrate excellent time management to deliver art and animations to the required quality, specification, and time
- Design and maintain production-ready Unity pipelines (asset import/validation, shader systems, animation pipeline, build/content packaging, performance tooling)
- Deliver advanced Unity editor tooling (batch processing, dependency management, automated scene checks, performance validation)
- Build optimized shader/material frameworks and author guidelines that balance quality and performance
- Partner with Engineers to integrate tooling into project workflows and version control (Perforce, GIT)
- Own complex character/animation technical workflows (rig standards, retargeting strategies, compression settings, runtime integration)
- Create optimized texture/layout solutions (atlasing strategies, channel packing, streaming/format guidance as applicable)
- Proficiently use 3D animations software (e.g., Maya, Blender, Unity)
- Create efficient 3Drigging, weighting, and animation files optimized for Unity
- Design optimized texture sheets for 3D assets implemented in Unity
- Profile content and drive optimization initiatives with measurable outcomes (memory, frame time, load time)
- Lead cross-discipline problem solving; propose tradeoffs and de-risk technical art deliverables
- Mentor Level I-II technical artists and contribute to standards, documentation, and review processes
JOB REQUIREMENTSEducation/Experience- 3+ years of experience using Unity
- 3+ years of game development experience with significant technical art/tools ownership
- Degree in Art, Animation, Computer Science/Engineering, or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Skills- Ability to provide and receive feedback
- Unity experience (mandatory); familiarity with prefab workflows and asset import pipeline
- Foundational 3D pipeline knowledge (modeling, UVs, textures, basic rig/animation concepts)
- Basic scripting familiarity (C# preferred; Python/MEL a plus)
- Comfortable debugging and communicating issues clearly
- Portfolio showing real-time 3D work and/or tooling/pipeline contributions
Other RequirementsSuccessful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Nevada Gaming registration if applicable.
Occasionally, additional hours may be required based on business needs and demands.
