102 Lead Technical Artist jobs in the United States

• Develop and maintain efficient 3D art pipelines for game development.
• Create and optimize 3D models, textures, and materials for real-time rendering.
• Develop shaders, scripts, and tools to improve artistic workflow and asset performance.
• Collaborate with artists to ensure assets meet technical and artistic requirements.
• Work with engineers to integrate art assets and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Establish and enforce best practices for 3D asset creation and optimization.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the art team.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest game engine features and 3D art technologies.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a 3D Technical Artist in the game development industry.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality 3D art assets and technical solutions.
• Expertise in industry-standard 3D software (Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, MEL, or C#.
• Knowledge of shaders, materials, and rendering techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

• Develop, maintain, and optimize 3D asset creation pipelines for game development.
• Create and implement high-quality 3D models, textures, and materials adhering to technical constraints and artistic vision.
• Work with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) to integrate assets and ensure proper rendering and performance.
• Develop shaders, materials, and visual effects that enhance the game's aesthetic.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to 3D assets, shaders, and rendering.
• Optimize asset performance for target platforms, managing polycounts, texture memory, and draw calls.
• Collaborate with lead artists and directors to establish and maintain visual style and quality.
• Create documentation and provide training for artists on pipeline tools and best practices.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in real-time rendering and asset creation technologies.
• Participate in art reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Develop custom tools and scripts to improve workflow efficiency for the art team.
• Assist with character rigging, animation setup, and engine integration as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience as a Technical Artist in the game development industry.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Expertise in texturing software like Substance Painter/Designer and Photoshop.
• Advanced knowledge of game engines, particularly Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong understanding of shader development (HLSL, GLSL) and material creation.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for pipeline development.
• Familiarity with real-time rendering techniques and performance optimization.
• Excellent artistic eye and a strong portfolio showcasing 3D art and technical skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.

Snail Games strives to create the new high bar for gameplay experience in online gaming. We have been a global developer and publisher of digital entertainment since 2009 and are committed to pushing the boundaries of the industry. We are currently seeking a Junior Full-Stack Engineer to join a small, focused team building next-generation game development tools. You’ll work closely with senior developers and technical leadership to prototype, build, and refine core systems that empower our creative teams.

This role is designed for high-potential engineers with strong fundamentals, a passion for making things, and the drive to grow fast. If you've built ambitious personal projects, worked across multiple layers of a tech stack, and love the challenge of building systems that developers want to use, this is your shot.

Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Beverly Hills, CA

**Hybrid or Remote
Remote may be considered in the following states:
**Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

• Work with senior engineers to implement full-stack tools and workflows used by internal teams

• Contribute to both UI/frontend and backend logic, integrating databases, file systems, or APIs as needed

• Help build node-based editors, map tools, and visual scripting systems

• Prototype ideas rapidly and iterate based on technical and user feedback

• Assist with debugging, testing, and polishing systems for internal use

• Document and maintain features as part of a growing toolchain

• Strong programming fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, OOP, debugging)

• Familiarity with at least one game engine (eg. Unreal, Unity, or proprietary)

• Experience building software projects through personal work, academic coursework, or professional roles, with attention to usability and long-term maintainability

• Proficient in C++, with additional experience in scripting or systems-level languages such as Rust, Python, JavaScript, or C# considered a plus

• Interest in building tools or platforms that empower other creators to build their own content

• Comfortable thinking about how technical decisions affect end-user workflows and long-term support

• Excited to contribute in a collaborative and rapidly evolving development environment

• Eagerness to grow, experiment, and contribute meaningfully to a small team

• Experience building or extending editor tools or custom pipelines

• Previous shipped projects to show off (personal, game jam, or commercial)

• Understanding of databases, networking, or multi-platform deployment

• Exposure to AI/ML toolchains or visual scripting systems

• True focus on work/life balance

• Paid company holidays, vacation, and separate sick leave

• We offer medical, dental, vision, and Life/LTD

• 401k with company match

Salary Range: $70,000 to $95,000

If you’re a hands-on builder ready to take the next step in your engineering career, we’d love to hear from you.

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, efficient C++ systems across gameplay, UI, tools, audio, graphics, and engine subsystems
• Drive architecture discussions and decisions, helping guide projects toward maintainable, high-performing codebases
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, production, QA, and publishing to ensure alignment with technical goals and player experience
• Mentor other engineers through code reviews, design consultations, and technical guidance
• Profile and optimize CPU, GPU, and memory performance across platforms
• Lead debugging efforts for complex issues including concurrency, memory corruption, and platform-specific bugs
• Contribute to and help evolve Aspyr's cross-platform technology stack for Apple (macOS/iOS), Win32, and beyond
• Write and maintain high-quality technical documentation

• Degree in Computer Science, Math, or related discipline(s), or equivalent industry experience
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including cross-platform development
• Deep expertise in C++ and strong architectural skills
• Extensive experience with concurrency, threading, and synchronization
• Proven track record in performance optimization and memory management
• Experience mentoring and providing technical leadership within engineering teams
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across disciplines

• Creating high-quality character and environment animations for games.
• Collaborating with the art and design teams to achieve the desired visual style and gameplay feel.
• Implementing animations within the game engine, ensuring optimal performance and integration.
• Rigging characters and props for animation.
• Developing and maintaining animation pipelines and workflows.
• Providing feedback and mentorship to junior animators.
• Troubleshooting and resolving animation-related issues.
• Staying current with the latest animation techniques and industry trends.
• Contributing to the overall creative direction of the game's visual presentation.