CD PROJEKT RED is officially seeking a visionary Senior VFX Artist to join our North American team. This is your opportunity to leave an indelible mark on Project Orion, the highly anticipated sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. We are looking for an artist who doesn’t just follow trends but sets them—someone capable of blending high-fidelity grit with cutting-edge technical execution to define the next generation of the “Dark Future.”

As a Senior Artist within our Remote-First Canada hub, you will be a key architect of the atmosphere, combat, and environmental storytelling that millions of players will experience. If you have the technical mastery to harness Unreal Engine 5 and the artistic soul to breathe life into Night City’s neon-drenched streets, your journey begins here.

Compensation & Financial Security

We believe in rewarding our “Rebels” with a package that reflects the high stakes and high skill of AAA game development. Our compensation is data-driven, competitive, and designed to support a stable, creative life.

The Mission: Defining the Aesthetic of Orion

At CD PROJEKT RED, our mission is to create story-driven RPGs that go straight to the hearts of gamers. In the world of Cyberpunk, VFX is not “polish”—it is a narrative tool. Whether it is the glitch of a malfunctioning cyberware implant, the toxic haze of the Badlands, or the kinetic sparks of high-octane combat, your work will be the pulse of the game.

Daily Responsibilities

• High-Fidelity Real-Time VFX: Design and implement complex visual effects that range from environmental atmospherics to explosive gameplay cues.
• Cross-Disciplinary Synergy: Collaborate with Gameplay Designers, Cinematographic Leads, and Environment Artists to ensure VFX enhance the narrative and player feedback loops.
• Innovation & Research: Partner with technical directors to pioneer new workflows and tools within Unreal Engine 5, pushing the technical boundaries of what is possible in real-time rendering.
• Optimization Mastery: Deliver breathtaking visuals that strictly adhere to technical budgets. You will be responsible for ensuring your effects perform flawlessly across next-gen hardware.
• Cultural Stewardship: Help foster a studio culture built on creativity, radical trust, and technical excellence. You will mentor peers and share your knowledge to elevate the entire VFX department.
• Production Planning: Work alongside department leads to provide accurate estimates and help map out the VFX roadmap for key project milestones.

Job Requirements & Qualifications

CD PROJEKT RED looking for a Senior Artist who has spent years “in the trenches” of AAA development and has a deep intuitive grasp of the Cyberpunk genre.

Technical Expertise

• Industry Tenure: Typically 5+ years of professional experience in real-time VFX for video games.
• Engine Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, with specific mastery of Niagara and its related logic systems.
• Simulations: Significant experience with both real-time and baked simulations, utilizing industry-standard tools like Houdini, Maya, or 3ds Max.
• Shaders & PBR: A profound understanding of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) concepts, custom shader creation, lighting, and real-time rendering pipelines.
• Profiling & Performance: Advanced skills in optimizing VFX for performance, including the ability to debug complex draw-call or overdraw issues.

Artistic & Soft Skills

• Visual Storytelling: A portfolio that demonstrates a sharp eye for timing, weight, color theory, and composition within the sci-fi/cyberpunk aesthetic.
• Strategic Problem Solving: The ability to look at a creative challenge and devise a technical solution that is both elegant and scalable.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, particularly the ability to translate complex technical jargon into understandable concepts for non-technical teammates.

Application Instructions

To be considered for the role of Senior VFX Artist on Project Orion, please prepare the following:

1. A Standout Portfolio: Showcase your best real-time work. We are specifically looking for high-end UE5/Niagara examples. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
2. Technical Breakdown: If possible, include a brief “breakdown” of a complex effect from your reel, explaining your logic and optimization choices.
3. Application Window: Please ensure your application is submitted by May 31, 2026.