Senior Technical Artist at Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Video GamesIndustries

Requirements

Ability to work hybrid from Santa Monica, CA based studio
5+ years of experience having shipped a major title in a relevant role
Expert proficiency in HLSL or GLSL shading languages, Python, and C++
Strong artistic background and content development skills (e.g., texturing, lighting, VFX) with a strong artistic eye
Motivated and proactive self-starter, capable of growing in a highly dynamic environment
Ability to manage tasks and responsibilities independently with little supervision
Outstanding problem solving, observation, and debugging skills, with a passion for discovering solutions even outside area of expertise
Excellent oral and written communication skills

Responsibilities

Write fragment, vertex, and compute shaders to meet art direction and artist needs
Write high-level shading features (e.g., skin, cloth, wetness, mud packages) and rendering effects (e.g., film grain, health effects, underwater rendering)
Spearhead the development of features, toolsets, and pipelines that meet various art department needs
Develop tools (in Python and C++) and collaborate closely with other tool developers
Help drive optimization efforts, ensuring the game fits within memory and framerate budgets without compromising visual fidelity
Write well-architected code that can be built upon for years to come
Support the content team in debugging issues with tools, assets, or framerate
Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

fragment shadersvertex shaderscompute shadersshading featuresrendering effectsartist pipelinestoolsetsgraphics programming

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this role remote or does it require office work?

The role requires the ability to work hybrid from the Santa Monica, CA based studio.

What programming skills are required for this Senior Technical Artist position?

Expert proficiency in HLSL or GLSL shading languages, Python, and C++ is required, along with experience writing shaders, tools, and high-level shading features.

What experience is needed to qualify for this role?

Candidates need 5+ years of experience having shipped a major title in a relevant role, with strong programming, math skills, and an artistic background.

What is the company culture like at Naughty Dog?

Naughty Dog values innovation, diverse candidates, and a broad range of cultural experiences, fostering a collaborative environment with top creative and technical minds to craft high-quality games.

What makes a strong candidate for this Senior Technical Artist role?

Strong candidates are half-artist half-programmer self-starters with 5+ years shipping major titles, expert in shading languages/Python/C++, a strong artistic eye, and the ability to work independently in a dynamic environment.

Naughty Dog

Develops story-driven video games for PlayStation

About Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog develops video games, focusing on creating high-quality, story-driven experiences for players. Their games, such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, are designed to engage players emotionally and are exclusive to PlayStation platforms. This exclusivity helps boost PlayStation console sales and builds a loyal fan base. Naughty Dog generates revenue primarily through game sales, downloadable content, and partnerships, including adaptations like the HBO series for The Last of Us. The company stands out from competitors by consistently delivering award-winning titles that emphasize character-driven storytelling and advanced technology, aiming to provide memorable gaming experiences.

Santa Monica, CaliforniaHeadquarters

1984Year Founded

ACQUISITIONCompany Stage

Entertainment, GamingIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Wellness Program

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Risks

High development costs for AAA games could strain Naughty Dog's financial resources.

'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet' may not meet high expectations from fans.

Increased competition from major studios could overshadow Naughty Dog's new releases.

Differentiation

Naughty Dog is renowned for its emotionally engaging, story-driven video games.

The studio's exclusivity to PlayStation platforms enhances its brand loyalty and market position.

Naughty Dog's collaboration with HBO for 'The Last of Us' series expands its media presence.

Upsides

The new IP 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet' could attract sci-fi gaming enthusiasts.

PC remaster of 'The Last of Us Part 2' taps into the growing PC gaming market.

Hiring Raf Grassetti may enhance visual storytelling and artistic quality in future projects.

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