Job Title:

Senior Lead VFX Artist - Raven Software

Requisition ID:

R023260

Job Description:

Raven is looking for a passionate Senior Lead VFX Artist to lead and develop compelling lighting visual effects that enhance gameplay and cinematic experiences for the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise.

We are looking for a self-sufficient, ‘fire-and-forget’ teammate to own Lighting and VFX development tasks, where you'll be leading a world class team of artists, proactively and independently solving challenges, and delivering industry leading work.

Our ideal candidate will be agile and flexible, and possess excellent communication skills with experience navigating diverse viewpoints, as you will actively partner with some of the most talented and passionate developers in the industry. Above all, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated teammate to help tell our story.

Your Mission:

• Work closely with the Art Director and others in bringing life to gameplay and cinematics through the addition of flair and visual drama.
• Lead a team to craft compelling moments through the design, lighting, creation, and implementation of real-time particle effects using both static and animating 2D/3D elements.
• Prototype VFX and materials which effectively develop tone and pacing of gameplay events.
• Spearhead VFX R&D efforts, create Houdini tools, champion best practices, and advocate for streamlining tools and processes.
• Research subject matter relating to objectives to ensure an authentic, accurate experience.
• Be a proactive self-starter that can independently implement high-level direction.
• Be a trusted gatekeeper for performance, efficiency, and quality.
• Inspire and mentor others as a role model of initiative, accountability, and attitude.
• Encourage others to thrive on open and welcome constructive criticism.
• Contribute creative and original ideas towards all aspects of game production and development.

Player Profile:

• 7+ years of Visual Effects experience in real-time game development or equivalent experience in film/television.
• The ability to lead by example, with a passionate and egoless demeanor that welcomes both positive and negative feedback, and enjoys working in a collaborative, iterative, and agile process.
• Ability to quickly learn new software and adapt to proprietary software.
• Experience with digital content creation tools like Photoshop, After Effects, Maya, Max, Houdini, and/or Substance Designer.
• Impressive communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to thrive in a dynamic and often ambiguous environment.
• Strong understanding of game VFX and industry trends.
• An inspiring reel demonstrating focus and commitment to realistic visual effects and process.

Extra Points:

• Experience in a secondary area such as texturing, modeling, scripting, animation, or lighting.
• Understanding of real-time physics systems.
• Passion for the Call of Duty franchise.
• Strong traditional art foundation.
• Experience creating VFX shaders.
• Experience in Unreal and/or PopcornFX.
• History of playing a variety of game genres both digital and physical.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to crafting a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

About Raven Software

Founded in 1990, Raven Software is the developer of numerous award-winning games including Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and most recently, a major contributor to the blockbuster Call of Duty® franchise.

We’re based in Middleton, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, annually ranked on numerous lists as one of the top places to live and work. We have a unique vision for our industry. One that has and continues to inspire us. We bring no egos. We focus on what is best for the game. We hire stunning peers. We own our own mistakes. We treat each other with respect. After nearly 30 years, Raven Software is still thriving. We developed a team who cares about one another, our games and our players.

As we enter the next exciting chapter of our story, we are growing. Our team is creative, highly intelligent, well-led and equipped to face this exciting future. If you want to work with a world-class team, on exciting new projects, then apply today!

Raven Software is wholly owned by Activision. To learn more about our studio, please visit us at www.ravensoftware.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ravensoftware, or @RavenSoftware on Twitter.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

Raven Software is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to [email protected]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $116,800.00 - $216,000.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.