Job Summary:Swaybox Studios is seeking a technically adept and creatively driven Unreal Artist (Generalist) to join our VFX team in creating high-quality CG environments, set extensions, vehicles, crowds, and props that seamlessly integrate with live action photography. This role is hands-on and highly collaborative, requiring a strong artistic eye, technical proficiency in Unreal Engine, and the versatility to work across multiple aspects of the CG process.
The Unreal Artist (Generalist) will focus on the creation and execution of CG replacements and set extensions, working across layout, texturing, material creation, look development, lighting, and rendering through final handoff to the compositing team. This person will also support early R&D, troubleshoot shot and asset challenges, and collaborate with Supervisors and Technical Directors to refine workflows and tools that improve production efficiency.
This is a perfect position for a versatile VFX artist who enjoys working across disciplines and is passionate about the cinematic quality that can be achieved through Unreal Engine, CG, and hybrid visual storytelling.
Work Location: Onsite in New Orleans, LA
Key Responsibilities:- Create and refine CG environments, set extensions, replacements, vehicles, crowds, and props within Unreal Engine using provided models, scans, photogrammetry, reference photography, and live action plates.
- Work across layout, texturing, material creation, look development, lighting, and rendering to bring CG environments and assets through final handoff to compositing.
- Create custom textures and materials utilizing various techniques including: hand painting, photo-sourcing, projection mapping, scans, and photogrammetry, to accurately match the surface characteristics and visual language of our fabricated assets.
- Create cinematic lighting in Unreal Engine, replicating live action plates, with an emphasis on integration, fine detail, texture nuance, scale, and the overall aesthetic of the film.
- Implement both static (baked) and dynamic lighting solutions using Unreal Engine.
- Participate in early R&D and visual development to help establish approaches for CG environments, set extensions, replacements, and DMP projections.
- Troubleshoot assets, materials, and scenes, working collaboratively to resolve creative and technical challenges.
- Collaborate with the VFX Supervisor, Unreal Supervisor, artists, and TDs to identify opportunities for tool and workflow improvements.
- Maintain organized files and adhere to studio naming conventions, version control, and pipeline standards.
- Communicate effectively with production, supervisors, and creative leads to ensure work meets both creative and technical requirements.
- Excel in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly, demonstrating flexibility, problem-solving skills, and the ability to maintain output quality amid evolving creative direction.
Required Qualifications:- 5+ years of experience in high-end live action VFX, animation, or episodic production.
- Strong proficiency in Unreal Engine, with hands-on experience in environment creation, layout, material creation, lookdev, procedural FX, lighting, and rendering.
- Proficiency with industry-standard DCC and texturing applications such as Maya, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Mari, Photoshop, and/or comparable software.
- In-depth knowledge of texture mapping techniques.
- Strong understanding and hands-on experience with Unreal Engine's sequencer and MRQ/MRG high-end cinematic workflows, as well as performance constraints of working in a real-time engine.
- Familiar with version control tools such as Perforce, SourceTree, or Git.
- Strong artistic eye and deep understanding of visual language including texture, color, composition, dimension, scale, perspective, lighting, motion blur, depth of field, proportion, and spatial awareness.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot creative and technical issues across multiple CG disciplines.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with supervisors, artists, Technical Directors, and production teams.
- An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback.
Preferred Qualifications:- Familiarity with Blueprints, Python, MEL, or other scripting and tool-development workflows used to improve artist efficiency.
- Experience creating both stylized and photorealistic CG environments and assets.
- Experience with photogrammetry, scanning, and integrating scan-based assets into Unreal Engine.
- Working knowledge of on-set camera workflows, including lenses, lighting setups, and tracking.
- Basic working knowledge of compositing in Nuke, including the ability to create and refine slap comps for presentation.
- Familiarity with DMP and projection-based environment workflows.
- Familiarity with Houdini, ZBrush, Blender, or other 3D software.
- Familiarity with hybrid workflows spanning traditional VFX, practical elements, and real-time CG.
- Familiarity with tracking software such as Shotgrid (Flow Production Tracking), FTrack, or similar.
