People Can Fly Studio

Senior VFX Artist

People Can Fly Studio

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Remote

Location: Montreal • Canada

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Job Level

Senior

Tech Stack

Flux

About the role

  • Create/implement particle- and shader-based visual effects; integrate them seamlessly into gameplay or cinematics; provide guidance and feedback; ensure VFX meet performance budgets; use visual scripting to drive VFX logic.
  • Maintain artistic direction and quality.
  • Produce high-quality visual effects that are both technically and artistically appropriate to the project’s world and visual direction.
  • Collaborate with the Art Director to define the artistic vision and uphold quality standards throughout development.
  • Translate art concepts and other game design documents into prototypes and implement them as real-time visual effects in the game.
  • Oversee and facilitate the creation of ambient effects that enhance atmosphere, tell story, and bring the world to life.
  • Deliver work that meets specifications and maintain workflows within assigned deadlines.
  • Work closely with production on task assignment and scheduling to meet deadlines while ensuring a healthy work–life balance by clearly defining expectations and scope of work.
  • Supervise bug fixes and document R&D case studies in the database.
  • Understand and use established organizational structures and naming conventions to ensure cohesion within the VFX pipeline.
  • Provide daily feedback to improve visual quality. Work with the team to find solutions and resolve issues creatively.
  • Oversee and facilitate the creation of gameplay effects that make the world exciting and provide players with necessary gameplay information.
  • Share knowledge and mentor colleagues.
  • Collaborate with the technical art team and lead R&D initiatives to explore new techniques and improve pipelines and workflows.
  • Work with developers across disciplines and ensure work is integrated into the build.
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively across departments with other leads, directors, and project stakeholders to ensure efficiency and minimize misunderstandings.
  • Work with designers to create effects for scripted events and key story moments.
  • Work with the lighting department to create atmosphere, add depth to scenes, and reinforce the color palette.
  • Conduct regular performance and compensation reviews for staff members.
  • Lead recruiting projects in collaboration with HR.

Requirements

  • Proven experience as a Visual Effects artist.
  • Knowledge of stylized effects.
  • Shader creation skills.
  • Experience with particle systems (Niagara, VFX Graph, Houdini).
  • Proficiency in Maya or equivalent software.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Proactive problem-solving ability.
  • Must be in frequent contact with client stakeholders to align VFX work with animation, combat design, and engineering.
  • Must be proactive in identifying performance, readability, and consistency risks when converting legacy assets.
  • Strong knowledge required in real-time stylized VFX, shader creation, and visual scripting (Blueprint-like systems).
  • Ability to strike the right balance between artistic direction and technical constraints is essential.
  • Effective communication: able to liaise with design, animation, lighting, and engineering teams independently, validating effects directly in-game.
  • Must thrive in the client’s tool-driven environment where automation, reusability, and scalability are expected.
  • Must adapt legacy VFX assets to modern physically-based rendering/shader pipelines without losing the original intent.
  • Acts as a mentor: helps guide partners and junior VFX artists to find a balance between artistic vision and execution efficiency.
  • Must be a passionate player of melee action games and understand how VFX timing, readability, and style influence combat feel.
  • VFX artists must be performance-conscious and gameplay-focused, not just style-focused.
  • Comfortable creating VFX shaders, programming VFX logic, and debugging complex real-time effects.
  • Capable of supporting automation in VFX pipelines (e.g., procedural Houdini systems, batch conversion of legacy particle banks).
  • Able to integrate traditional particle/flipbook VFX into modern GPU-based workflows (VFX Graph, proprietary systems).
Benefits
  • A comprehensive benefits package 100% paid by People Can Fly (PCF).
  • Insurance reimburses claims at 100% (up to $1,000 in services per year, plus family or individual coverage).
  • Full dental coverage, including dental care.
  • Employer RRSP contribution of 4% pre-tax, 100% vested from day one.
  • One week of paid time off during the winter holidays.
  • 20 days of paid vacation and 5 paid sick days.
  • Free virtual health and mental wellness care sessions included in the plan for members and their dependents.
  • Opportunities for personal development and the chance to work in a global environment.
  • The opportunity to work with a creative team of people who are passionate about what they do.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
visual effectsshader creationparticle systemsreal-time VFXvisual scriptingMayadebuggingautomation in VFX pipelinesGPU-based workflowsstylized effects
Soft Skills
communicationproactive problem-solvingmentoringcollaborationartistic directiontime managementfeedback provisioncreativityadaptabilityclient engagement