Lead Technical Artist - Tools and Pipeline

Hangar 13

JOB TITLE  LEAD TECHNICAL ARTIST – (PIPELINE/TOOLS)  Department Art  Location(s)  Brighton / Brno Reports To  Technical 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 Technical Artist to lead the design and development of scalable content pipelines and production tools for our projects. In this role, you will define workflows, create tools to streamline production, and act as the bridge between artists, engineers, and design teams. Your leadership will ensure that art teams can produce high-quality, performant assets efficiently, while maintaining flexibility for rapid iteration. You’ll guide a team of technical artists, support cross-discipline collaboration, and set the standards for how content is created, managed, and deployed across multiple projects. 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 onsite at one of our Studios at least 3 days a week.    Duties and Responsibilities   * Architect and maintain scalable pipelines for all content disciplines — including environments, characters, animation, vehicles, materials, VFX, and cinematics. * Design and implement custom tools, scripts, and workflows to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and standardize asset integration. * Partner with engineering to extend UE5’s editor functionality and improve asset processing. * Work with content creators to ensure pipelines are user-friendly, scalable, and optimized for production needs. * Establish best practices for asset versioning, content validation, and automated build processes. * Lead, mentor, and inspire your team, setting quality and productivity benchmarks. Conduct regular reviews, provide feedback, and support professional growth within the team. * Coordinate with production to manage priorities, schedules, and resourcing for development. * Collaborate & support outsourcing partners by defining pipeline requirements and ensuring seamless integration of external content. Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience * Extensive  experience in the games industry, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles. * Proven track record as a Senior or Lead Technical Artist with pipeline and tools focus. * Expert knowledge of Unreal Engine 5’s editor, content pipeline, Blueprints, and asset workflows. * Proficiency in scripting/programming languages (Python, C++, C# or similar), with a focus on framework design & implementation. * Strong understanding of version control (Perforce) and build/automation systems (Jenkins, Unreal Build Tools, CI/CD pipelines). * Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills Highly Desirable  * Experience with automated content validation and performance profiling tools. * Familiarity with large-scale open-world production pipelines in UE5 (World Partition, data layers, HLODs). * Experience integrating procedural workflows (Houdini, Substance Designer) into pipelines. * Knowledge of shader/material pipeline integration and optimization. * Background in outsourcing/vendor management and pipeline support across distributed teams.   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 request reasonable accommodation. SECURITY NOTICE -  We have recently been made aware of increasing occurrences of bad actors posing as company HR personnel to gain information from "potential candidates", in the form of job interviews and offers. These scams can be quite sophisticated and appear legitimate. Please know that Hangar 13 and 2K never use instant messaging apps to contact prospective employees or to conduct interviews. If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam, you may fill out a complaint form at https://complaint.ic3.gov/ and https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ detailing as much as possible. We are taking these matters very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. #LI-Hybrid ##LI-MW1

Hangar 13

JOB TITLE LEAD LIGHTING ARTIST Department Art and Animation Location(s)  Brighton (travel as required) Reports To  (Franchise) Art Director Job Type (Permanent, fixed term, internship)  Permanent Who We Are Home to the award winning Mafia franchise, our team are united by passion for rich narrative storytelling, cinematic presentation and AAA craft. We're looking for creative minds and driven professionals who share our love of story, style, and adventure. If you're ready to help shape the next generation of narrative driven games, we'd love to hear from you.   Job Summary  * We are looking for a Lead Lighting Artist to help shape and deliver world-class real-time lighting across gameplay, cinematics, and key marketing assets.  * This role sits at the intersection of creativity and technical expertise, using Unreal Engine 5 to create lighting that enhances atmosphere, storytelling, and player experience while meeting performance goals. * Reporting to the Art Director, the Lead Lighting Artist will work closely with Engineering, and the other Art Disciplines, playing a key role in defining lighting solutions that are both visually ambitious and technically robust.   Duties and Responsibilities   * Drive Lighting Quality & Vision * Help define and execute the lighting vision in alignment with the game’s art direction. * Set and maintain lighting standards and best practices to ensure a consistent, high-quality visual bar. * Create lighting that supports mood, composition, readability, and emotional impact across a wide range of content. Gameplay, Cinematic & Marketing Lighting * Lead lighting for real-time gameplay and in-engine cinematics, ensuring a cohesive visual experience. * Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team on the creation of high-end marketing and promotional assets, contributing ideas and helping deliver polished, visually striking results. * Adapt lighting solutions to work effectively across gameplay and cinematics. Unreal Engine 5 Leadership * Act as a go-to expert for UE5 lighting, with hands-on experience using systems such as Lumen, Virtual Shadow Maps, exposure, and post-processing. * Use UE5’s lighting capabilities to push visual quality while maintaining performance and stability. * Partner with Technical Art and Engineering to explore new features and improve lighting workflows. Technical Collaboration & Performance * Build strong working relationships with Engineering teams to develop and refine lighting solutions. * Take ownership of lighting performance, identifying potential issues early and helping guide effective solutions. * Contribute to the ongoing improvement of lighting pipelines, tools, and debugging processes. Lead, Support & Mentor * Provide clear artistic and technical guidance to lighting artists through reviews, feedback, and hands-on support. * Help plan and scope lighting work, identify dependencies, and support the team in hitting quality and production goals. * Be an active advocate for lighting quality and consistency throughout development.   Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience * Lighting & Unreal Engine Expertise * A strong portfolio showcasing high-quality real-time lighting in Unreal Engine, including gameplay, cinematics, and marketing assets. * Experience in a Lead Lighting Artist role on shipped titles. * Deep hands-on experience lighting complex scenes using UE5. Creative & Technical Balance * Excellent understanding of lighting fundamentals such as color, contrast, exposure, composition, and mood. * Strong technical awareness of real-time rendering constraints, profiling, and optimization. * Strong understanding of grading and colour pipelines, from content creation through in-engine rendering and final output. UE5 Savvy * Deep, practical knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 lighting systems and workflows. Comfortable working closely with engineers to balance artistic goals with technical realities. HDR Sky Capture & Real-World Reference * Previous experience capturing, processing, and implementing HDR skies / sky domes. * A solid understanding of physically based lighting and real-world lighting reference. Collaboration & Communication * Clear communicator who can explain lighting intent to both artistic and technical audiences. * Enjoys collaborating, sharing ideas, and helping elevate the work of the team.   Highly Desirable  * Experience contributing to high-quality in-engine marketing or promotional assets. * Familiarity with custom or advanced rendering pipelines in Unreal Engine. * A strong eye for cinematic lighting, composition, and visual storytelling. * Photography and studio lighting skills   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 request reasonable accommodation. SECURITY NOTICE -  We have recently been made aware of increasing occurrences of bad actors posing as company HR personnel to gain information from "potential candidates", in the form of job interviews and offers. These scams can be quite sophisticated and appear legitimate. Please know that Hangar 13 and 2K never use instant messaging apps to contact prospective employees or to conduct interviews. If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam, you may fill out a complaint form at https://complaint.ic3.gov/ and https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ detailing as much as possible. We are taking these matters very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. #LI-Hybrid #LI-JF1

Hangar 13

JOB TITLE  LEAD TECHNICAL ARTIST -  (SHADER / MATERIAL) Department Art  Location(s)  Brighton / Brno  Reports To  Technical 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 Shader / Material Artist with deep expertise in Unreal Engine 5. In this leadership role, you will define the standards for material workflows, drive innovation in look development, and collaborate with artists, technical teams, and engineering to achieve world-class visuals while maintaining optimal performance. This position demands both artistic sensibility and strong technical problem-solving, with mastery of UE5’s material editor, shader graph, Lumen, Nanite, and advanced rendering features. 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 onsite at one of our Studios at least 3 days a week.   Duties and Responsibilities   * Define and drive the visual and technical quality bar for all shaders and materials in the project. * Establish a shader and material pipeline optimized for both high visual fidelity and real-time performance across platforms. * Lead R&D into UE5’s advanced rendering features (Lumen, Nanite, virtual texturing, runtime virtual shadows, etc.) to enhance the project’s material systems. * Partner with the Art Director to ensure materials support the game’s overall art direction and style. * Create and maintain a library of modular, reusable, and performant shaders and materials. * Develop complex materials for characters, environments, weapons, FX integration, and cinematics, working closely with these disciplines to ensure seamless integration across the project. * Work with lighting and rendering teams to achieve physically accurate, believable surfaces under dynamic lighting conditions. * Optimize materials for memory, draw calls, and runtime performance across platforms. * Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of shader/material artists and technical artists. * Review work, provide feedback, and set standards for quality and consistency. * Collaborate with external partners or outsourcing vendors to ensure materials meet AAA expectations. Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience * Minimum 7+ years’ experience in the games industry, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles. * Proven track record as a Senior or Lead Shader/Material Artist on a large-scale project. * Expert-level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 material editor, shader graph, and rendering pipeline. * Strong understanding of PBR workflows, physically-based shading models, and material authoring. * Hands-on experience with Lumen, Nanite, and virtual texturing in UE5. * Ability to balance high visual fidelity with performance optimization. * Strong leadership, mentoring, and cross-discipline collaboration skills.   Highly Desirable  * Experience with procedural material workflows (e.g., Substance Designer, Houdini). * Knowledge of HLSL or shader programming for advanced customization. * Familiarity with real-time ray tracing and cinematic rendering in UE5. * Experience with material systems for multiplayer and large open worlds. * Passion for experimenting with new rendering techniques and staying ahead of industry trends. 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 request reasonable accommodation. SECURITY NOTICE -  We have recently been made aware of increasing occurrences of bad actors posing as company HR personnel to gain information from "potential candidates", in the form of job interviews and offers. These scams can be quite sophisticated and appear legitimate. Please know that Hangar 13 and 2K never use instant messaging apps to contact prospective employees or to conduct interviews. If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam, you may fill out a complaint form at https://complaint.ic3.gov/ and https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ detailing as much as possible. We are taking these matters very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. #LI-Hybrid ##LI-MW1 .