Lead VFX Artist

About this role

Job Title

Lead VFX Artist

Department

Art

Location(s)

Brighton UK

Reports To

Art Director

Job Type

Permanent

Who We Are

Hangar 13 is an internal 2K development studio that crafts unforgettable AAA gaming experiences across all major platforms . With studios in Brighton (UK), Brno, and Prague (CZ), we work as one team to bring to life narrative-rich games that keep players immersed. Each of our locations provides the opportunity to work with some of the most talented developers in the industry, on creatively challenging and exciting projects, in a diverse and welcoming environment.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead VFX Artist with deep expertise in Unreal Engine 5. You will define the artistic and technical standards for VFX, guide a team of artists, and collaborate closely with design, cinematic, and engineering departments to deliver effects that are visually spectacular, performant, and seamlessly integrated into gameplay.

This is a leadership role at the intersection of creativity and technology, requiring strong direction, hands-on execution, and mastery of UE5’s Niagara, Lumen, Nanite, and material systems.

In addition to leading internal team members, you will also oversee and collaborate with external co-development partners, ensuring their work aligns with our creative vision, technical standards, and production goals.

Please note we do require someone to be based from one of our Studios at least 3 days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Push the visual fidelity of VFX using UE5’s latest features (Niagara, Lumen, Nanite) while balancing performance requirements.

• Drive innovation in real-time effects, cinematic presentation, and player feedback.

• Collaborate with technical artists and engineers to expand UE5’s VFX toolset and pipeline for AAA production.

• Set and maintain performance budgets for VFX across platforms (PC, console, next-gen hardware).

• Manage and mentor a team of VFX artists, providing clear direction, feedback, and professional development.

• Define workflows and pipelines for UE5 VFX production, ensuring efficiency and scalability across large teams.

• Partner with design teams to ensure VFX enhance gameplay readability, feedback, and immersion.
Work with cinematics, animation, and lighting teams to integrate VFX into cutscenes and storytelling sequences.

• Act as the primary Unreal Engine VFX expert, supporting cross-team problem solving and technical guidance.

Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience

• Minimum 7+ years of VFX experience in the games industry, including at least 2 shipped AAA titles.

• Expert-level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, including Niagara, materials, shaders, Lumen, and optimization workflows.

• Strong portfolio showcasing high-fidelity, real-time UE5 VFX.

• Solid understanding of real-time rendering, particle systems, physics, and performance constraints.

• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring a VFX team.

• Excellent cross-discipline collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with procedural tools (Houdini, EmberGen) integrated into UE5 pipelines.

• Familiarity with cinematic or pre-rendered VFX via Unreal Sequencer.

• Experience managing outsourcing or external vendors.

• Understanding of multiplayer or networked gameplay VFX challenges.

• Passion for staying at the forefront of real-time VFX and Unreal Engine innovation.

Hangar 13 prides itself on the diversity of its team members, partners, and communities. For this reason, we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment and hiring through compensation, benefits, discipline and termination.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and/or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need to…