Company: Insomniac Games

Insomniac Games, the visionary studio behind iconic titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank, and Spyro the Dragon, is seeking a world-class VFX Artist for a 12-month contract. As a part of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Insomniac is a place where technical innovation meets unparalleled storytelling. In this role, you will be responsible for creating immersive visual effects that enhance gameplay, ground environments in reality, and elevate the cinematic quality of our world-renowned titles. We are looking for an artist who can balance aesthetic beauty with technical optimization, ensuring our games look stunning while maintaining high performance across all platforms. Job Overview: VFX Artist Category Details Official Job Title VFX Artist Company Name Insomniac Games (Sony Interactive Entertainment) Location Remote (United States) Employment Type 12-Month CONTRACT Pay Rate (Hourly) $75 – $90 USD per hour Experience Level Senior / Professional (5+ Years) Key Software Maya, Houdini, Photoshop Benefit Eligibility Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage included The Mission: Your Creative Scope As a VFX Artist at Insomniac Games, you are the architect of atmosphere and impact. Your work bridges the gap between static art and dynamic experience. 1. Creation and Implementation Particle Systems: Design and implement real-time particle effects using a sophisticated blend of static and animating 2D/3D elements. Environmental & Gameplay FX: Place visual effects across all areas of the game to ensure the world feels alive, from subtle ambient dust to explosive combat abilities. Cinematic Integration: Work closely with the cinematics team to provide high-fidelity effects that maintain visual consistency during narrative sequences. 2. Technical Artistry & Texturing Texture Development: Create essential FX textures including color, normal, specular, ambient occlusion, height, and incandescent maps. Shading: Build complex FX shaders using node-based shader networks to achieve specific visual goals. Geometry: Create simple 3D geometry and optimized UV sets tailored for effect performance. 3. Optimization & Collaboration Performance Tuning: Optimize all visual effects for framerate and memory consumption without sacrificing artistic integrity. Cross-Departmental Synergy: Collaborate with designers, programmers, and environment artists to ensure FX are implemented appropriately within the game engine. Outsourcing Support: Create briefs and best practice documentation for external art vendors, ensuring third-party work meets Insomniac’s high standards. EXPLORE ALL CURRENT OPENINGS – ALL OPENINGS What We’re Looking For Insomniac Games is seeking a candidate who possesses a solid foundation in computer graphics and a keen eye for artistic analysis. Professional Background Experience: Five or more years of professional industry experience or an equivalent combination of education and training. DCC Proficiency: Intermediate to advanced ability to navigate and utilize Maya and Houdini. Simulation Skills: Competency in keyframing, rigid body simulations, and working with joints/locators. Technical & Artistic Skill Set Texture Editing: Proficiency in Photoshop for painting and manipulating textures. Shader Knowledge: Expertise in node-based shader networks. Familiarity with proprietary toolsets and various game engines is a significant plus. Animation Fundamentals: Strong understanding of timing and weight to create believable, impactful motion. Observation: Ability to use real-world reference materials to ground fantastical effects in physical reality. The Insomniac Experience: Benefits & Culture At Insomniac Games, we pride ourselves on a culture of professionalism, communication, and mutual respect. Even as a contract member of the team, you are an integral part of our success. Competitive Pay: An hourly rate of $75 – $90, reflecting the high level of expertise required for our projects. Health Coverage: Eligibility for medical, dental, and vision benefit offerings to support your personal wellbeing. Remote Flexibility: Work from the comfort of your home office anywhere within the United States. Legacy: The opportunity to contribute to a storied history of games that define their respective genres. Industry Context: VFX in the Era of Real-Time Realism The role of the VFX Artist has evolved rapidly as hardware capabilities have expanded. In 2026, the expectation for real-time effects is nearing the quality of pre-rendered film sequences. This shift requires artists to be increasingly proficient in simulation-heavy workflows using tools like Houdini to create procedural and complex phenomena. At a studio like Insomniac Games, the VFX Artist must also be a “performance advocate.” As games move toward higher resolutions and more complex lighting models, the efficiency of a particle system is just as important as its beauty. This role is perfect for a technical artist who enjoys solving the puzzle of how to make a scene “look expensive” while keeping the engine running smoothly. How to Apply Insomniac Games is looking for professionals who demonstrate excellence in their craft and their communication. Portfolio Submission: A demo reel is required. We are looking for diverse examples of gameplay, environmental, and cinematic FX. Background Check: Please note that Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage. Privacy: We encourage all applicants to review our Candidate Privacy Notice regarding the processing of personal information. Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment are Equal Opportunity Employers. We value the diversity of our team and the unique perspectives each artist brings to our games.