Company: That's No Moon

Senior VFX Artist (Project Hire) – Los Angeles / Remote About That’s No Moon:That’s No Moon is an independent studio of storytellers and game-makers, passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences. Our diverse team of talented developers is dedicated to shaping the future of AAA games through creativity, collaboration, and responsible production practices. At TNM, every team member has the opportunity to influence our studio, projects, and vision. The Role:We are looking for a highly skilled Senior VFX Artist to create stunning volumetric, environmental, and bespoke visual effects for both in-game and cinematic AAA content. Your work will drive the dynamic nature of our games, pushing the boundaries of real-time VFX and storytelling. You will collaborate with a team of driven creatives aiming to set new standards for realism, gameplay, and cinematic experiences. Key Responsibilities: Create photorealistic real-time VFX, including explosions, fire, weapon FX, smoke, clouds, and debris using Unreal Engine, Niagara, and tools like Houdini. Collaborate with Environment, Lighting, Animation, and Design teams to meet both artistic and gameplay requirements for VFX across gameplay and cinematics. Research and contribute to new workflows and documentation. Ensure VFX content is optimized for performance and budget. Work with Leads and Production to estimate tasks, plan milestones, and share progress updates. Requirements & Skills: Proficiency in Unreal Engine, Niagara, and Blueprints. Experience creating realistic and compelling VFX for games, film, or TV. Understanding of in-game VFX performance, tuning, and memory budgets. Knowledge of modeling, shading, and animation workflows. Strong grasp of PBR concepts and physics for VFX. Portfolio demonstrating real-time FX work, preferably in photorealistic style. 3+ years of professional experience in VFX for games, visual effects, or film. Bonus Skills: Experience with Houdini, Maya, 3ds Max, or similar. Python scripting experience. Film/TV production experience. Qualities We Value: Self-motivated and effective in a multidisciplinary team environment. Strong artistic eye for volume, energy, weight, density, timing, and dynamic aesthetics. Position Details: This is a temporary Project Hire role. Duration varies per project. Eligible for TNM benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, and flexible PTO. Base pay range: $120,000 – $150,000 (U.S. only), with potential incentive compensation including equity and profit share. Only candidates located in North America will be considered at this time. Why Join Us:At That’s No Moon, we offer competitive and comprehensive benefits and a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and growth. Application Safety Notes: Official TNM recruiters will contact you from an “@thatsnomoon.com” email. We do not conduct interviews via Discord or WhatsApp. We will never request sensitive personal information or ask you to purchase equipment for an interview/test. Equal Opportunity:That’s No Moon is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any legally protected status.

Location: Los Angeles, CA That’s No Moon is an independent studio of storytellers and game-makers who believe in the transformative power of narrative-driven experiences. Our team consists of diverse, highly skilled developers from some of the world’s leading game studios — including Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, and Bungie. Together, we share a bold vision: to shape the future of AAA experiences through creativity, collaboration, and responsible production practices. At That’s No Moon, every team member plays a part in shaping our studio, projects, and future. We encourage innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence in a culture where great ideas thrive. We are now seeking an exceptionally skilled Expert VFX Artist to join our growing team — someone passionate about pushing the boundaries of grounded, real-time visual effects. This role focuses solely on world-class artistic delivery, without management responsibilities, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the craft. Role Overview As an Expert VFX Artist, you will specialize in creating high-quality, photorealistic visual effects for AAA in-game and cinematic content using Unreal Engine. You will work on a variety of effects — from explosive weapon impacts to immersive environmental atmospheres and inventive imagined visuals. This is a hands-on role for a top-level individual contributor who thrives on artistry and technical excellence. Key Responsibilities VFX Creation: Produce photorealistic, performant, and real-time visual effects such as explosions, fire, weapon impacts, smoke, clouds, debris, and unique imagined substances. Use Unreal Engine alongside simulation/procedural tools like Houdini, Embergen, and others. Collaboration: Work closely with Environment, Lighting, Animation, and Design teams to support artistic vision and gameplay requirements across both cinematic sequences and live gameplay. Research & Innovation: Explore and implement new workflows and techniques, contributing to technical documentation and process improvements. Optimization: Ensure all VFX assets meet performance requirements and memory budgets without sacrificing quality. Project Support: Work with Leads and Production to estimate workloads, plan milestones, and track progress of VFX deliverables. Required Skills & Qualifications Proven track record in creating realistic and engaging VFX for games. Expert-level proficiency with Unreal Engine. Strong understanding of in-game VFX performance, optimization, and memory constraints. Proficiency in industry-standard VFX software such as Houdini, 3ds Max, Maya, or equivalent. Knowledge of modeling, shading, and animation workflows. Deep understanding of PBR concepts and physics-based effects. Portfolio showcasing real-time, photorealistic VFX work. 5–8 years of professional experience in games, film, or visual effects production. Personal Qualities Self-motivated and autonomous, with the ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team. Strong artistic eye for volume, energy, weight, density, and timing. Exceptional attention to detail and passion for high-quality visuals. Adaptability to evolving workflows and fast-paced production environments. Compensation & Benefits Estimated Base Pay Range: $160,000 – $190,000 (U.S. only; excludes locations outside the U.S.) Compensation is based on qualifications, experience, location, and job-specific skills. Additional incentives may include equity, profit-sharing, and other benefits. Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, flexible PTO, supplemental life and disability coverage, and more (eligibility may vary by employment type and location). About That’s No Moon That’s No Moon is dedicated to creating extraordinary narrative-driven AAA experiences. We embrace diverse perspectives and encourage innovation, striving to produce games that inspire and resonate with players worldwide. Our creative culture blends technical excellence with artistic vision. We believe every team member contributes to our success, and we foster an environment where collaboration and creativity thrive. Equal Opportunity Employer That’s No Moon is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, ancestry, color, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Safety & Recruitment Guidelines To ensure a secure application process: Official communication will only come from an “@thatsnomoon.com” email address. We do not conduct interviews via Discord or WhatsApp. We will not request sensitive personal information. We will never ask candidates to purchase equipment for interviews or tests. If in doubt about an outreach, please contact us through our official channels before responding. If you’re ready to join a visionary team and push the boundaries of VFX artistry, That’s No Moon wants to hear from you.