Virtual Production Artist (Unreal Engine) - 3D Animated Feature Film

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and creative Virtual Production Artist specializing in Unreal Engine (UE) to join our team for a 3D animated feature film. This role is central to our real-time animation pipeline, leveraging Unreal Engine's capabilities to build high-quality cinematic environments, light scenes, and render final footage with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The ideal candidate will blend strong artistic ability with technical expertise to maximize visual quality while significantly reducing traditional rendering time and costs.

Key Responsibilities

• Real-Time World Building: Create, manage, and optimize large-scale 3D environments, virtual sets, and levels directly within Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred).
• Cinematic Look Development: Be the primary owner of scene lighting, atmosphere, and visual look. Set up and art direct dynamic lighting, post-process effects, and materials to establish the film's aesthetic.
• Asset Pipeline Integration: Import, clean up, and optimize 3D assets (characters, props, environments) from DCC tools (Maya, Blender, Houdini) to ensure they meet real-time performance and visual standards in UE.
• Cinematic Sequencing: Utilize Unreal Engine's Sequencer tool to block out shots, choreograph cameras, manage scene assembly, and create pre-visualization (pre-vis) and final cinematic sequences.
• Real-Time Rendering: Execute final, high-quality cinematic renders using the Movie Render Queue/Graph to deliver final frames for the animation pipeline, bypassing traditional render farms.
• Blueprint Scripting: Use Unreal's visual scripting system, Blueprint, to develop and automate pipeline tools, custom functionalities, and real-time interactive elements for the virtual production stage.
• Optimization and Performance: Continuously profile and optimize scenes for smooth real-time performance, balancing visual fidelity with frame rate efficiency (critical for cost savings).
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Director, Animation Lead, and Technical Directors to translate artistic vision into a functional, high-quality real-time environment.

Nature of Work and Responsibilities

• Nature of Work

• The Unreal Artist's role is defined by real-time efficiency and continuous iteration.
• Core work involves constructing, lighting, and finalizing the virtual world for the animation.
• Includes Environment Creation: building and sculpting extensive landscapes, sets, and digital backdrops directly within the engine.
• Responsible for Cinematic Look Development: establishing the film's atmosphere by optimizing dynamic lighting, shadows, and surface properties.
• Critical job component is Cinematic Sequencing and Layout: blocking out shots, choreographing virtual cameras, and assembling the final scene.
• Manages the entire Real-Time Rendering process, delivering final-quality frames much faster than traditional pipelines to achieve significant time and cost savings.
• Requires a constant balance between artistic ambition and technical performance; optimization of assets is key.
• Acts as the central nexus connecting 3D assets into a coherent, performance-ready, and visually stunning virtual production stage.

Software to Know and Use

• Real-Time Engine Mastery: Unreal Engine (UE5) is the absolute priority.
• Specific UE Tools: Sequencer for cinematic staging, the Material Editor for PBR surfaces, and Blueprint for scripting and automation.
• 3D Content Creation (DCC): Autodesk Maya or Blender are essential for handling and optimizing incoming assets.
• Texturing and Materials: Tools like Substance Painter and Substance Designer are necessary for detailed texture work and PBR material creation.
• Version Control: Perforce is the standard system for managing large production asset libraries.
• Advanced Tools and Effects: Knowledge of Quixel Bridge (for Megascans assets) and the Niagara particle system for visual effects is highly advantageous.

Office Location : Goregaon West Mumbai

Work Experience: 0 to 24 Months

Skill Set Needed

A. Core Technical Skills

• Unreal Engine Mastery: Deep understanding of the engine's real-time rendering architecture (e.g., Lumen for global illumination, Nanite for high-poly geometry).
• Cinematography: Strong technical knowledge of virtual cameras, lenses, composition, and editing principles within a real-time context.
• Shading & PBR: Expertise in creating complex, optimized, Physically Based Rendering (PBR) materials using the Material Editor.
• Optimization: Proficient in asset auditing, profiling, and optimizing complex scenes to maintain target frame rates and memory limits.
• Scripting Foundation: Practical experience with Blueprint Visual Scripting for creating efficient production tools and scene logic.

B. Core Artistic Skills

• Lighting & Color Theory: Exceptional eye for dramatic, cinematic lighting and color grading to convey mood and narrative.
• Environment Design: Strong sense of scale, atmosphere, and visual storytelling in the creation of environments.
• Composition & Detail: Ability to frame visually arresting shots and ensure visual continuity and quality across all assets.
• Problem-Solving: A highly creative and technical mind capable of finding real-time solutions to complex visual challenges.

C. Soft Skills (Critical for Pipeline Success)

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication to clearly discuss technical and artistic issues with both programmers and non-technical creative leads (Director, Producer).
• Adaptability: Ability to work quickly and incorporate real-time feedback and design changes under production pressure.
• Proactive Problem Solving: A self-starter who can troubleshoot complex technical issues in the real-time pipeline without constant supervision.
• Team Player: Ability to seamlessly integrate into a virtual production team, sharing knowledge and maintaining clean, well-organized project files.

Salary: It will be decided as per your expertise and skillset

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Fresher, Internship, Freelance
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: ₹7,000.00 - ₹25,000.00 per month

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Will you be able to work on TIGHT Deadlines ?
• Are you from Mumbai or from Outside Mumbai Vicinity ?
• Are you looking for Full time job or Freelance only ?
• Are you falling into our mentioned category of 1 to 3 years experience ? or You are a Fresher ?
• Which software you are best at ? I Clone, Unreal, Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, etc., ?
• Are you Familiar with using I Clone in 3D Animation? or You are thoroughly aware of 3D Animation Pipeline ?
• Are you a toal Fresher ?
• Are you aware or good at integrating AI as well as Blender/Maya with Unreal ?

Work Location: In person