Lead VFX Artist at Hangar 13
Company: Hangar 13
Location: Brighton, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: Permanent
Salary: Not Disclosed
About Hangar 13
Hangar 13 is an internal 2K development studio known for creating immersive AAA gaming experiences across major platforms.
With studios located in Brighton (UK), Brno, and Prague, the team collaborates globally to craft narrative-driven games that
deliver unforgettable player experiences. The studio provides a collaborative, diverse, and creative environment for talented
developers to work on exciting and technically challenging projects.
Job Overview
Hangar 13 is seeking a highly experienced Lead VFX Artist with deep expertise in Unreal Engine 5 to lead the development of
high-quality real-time visual effects for AAA games. In this leadership role, you will establish artistic and technical
standards for VFX, mentor a team of artists, and collaborate closely with design, engineering, cinematic, and lighting teams.
The role combines creative vision with technical expertise, requiring mastery of UE5 systems such as Niagara, Lumen, Nanite,
and advanced material workflows. You will also collaborate with external co-development partners to ensure all effects align
with production standards and the studio’s visual goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Push the visual fidelity of real-time VFX using Unreal Engine 5 technologies including Niagara, Lumen, and Nanite.
- Drive innovation in gameplay effects, cinematic presentation, and player feedback systems.
- Collaborate with technical artists and engineers to improve UE5 VFX pipelines and internal tools.
- Define and manage performance budgets for visual effects across PC, console, and next-generation hardware.
- Lead and mentor a team of VFX artists, providing guidance, feedback, and career development support.
- Develop scalable workflows and pipelines for efficient VFX production in large teams.
- Work closely with gameplay designers to ensure VFX enhance clarity, immersion, and player interaction.
- Integrate visual effects into cinematics, animation systems, and storytelling sequences.
- Act as the primary Unreal Engine VFX expert, assisting teams with technical challenges and solutions.
- Oversee external outsourcing partners and ensure their work meets internal creative and technical standards.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 7+ years of VFX experience in the video game industry.
- Experience contributing to at least two shipped AAA titles.
- Expert-level proficiency with Unreal Engine 5 including Niagara, materials, shaders, and optimization workflows.
- Strong understanding of real-time rendering, particle systems, physics simulation, and performance optimization.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing and mentoring VFX artists.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong portfolio showcasing high-quality real-time VFX created in Unreal Engine.
Highly Desirable Skills
- Experience using procedural tools such as Houdini or EmberGen in UE5 pipelines.
- Knowledge of cinematic VFX workflows using Unreal Sequencer.
- Experience working with outsourcing studios or external development partners.
- Understanding of multiplayer or networked gameplay VFX systems.
- Passion for advancing real-time VFX technology and Unreal Engine innovation.