Website Eleventh Hour Games
Job Overview
- Company Name: Eleventh Hour Games (KRAFTON Americas)
- Job Title: Lead VFX Artist
- Job Type: Full-Time, Remote
- Location: Remote (Global)
- Estimated Salary: $120,000 – $185,000 (Based on industry standards for Lead roles)
- Experience Required: 7+ Years Professional VFX Experience
- Leadership Level: Lead / Senior Management (1+ year leadership experience required)
- Core Tech Stack: Unity or Unreal Engine, Shader Mastery, Real-time Particle Systems
- Industry: Video Game Development
Executive Position Summary
Eleventh Hour Games is seeking a visionary and technically proficient Lead VFX Artist to drive the visual identity of our breakout title, Last Epoch. As a core leader within our remote studio, you will be responsible for the end-to-end execution of visual effects that define the visceral combat and immersive atmosphere of our top-down action RPG (ARPG) world. This role is a unique blend of high-level creative direction and hands-on technical artistry, requiring a candidate who can mentor a growing team while personally contributing to the game’s most critical visual moments.
The Studio Culture: Eleventh Hour Games
Eleventh Hour Games is a fast-growing studio fueled by a singular passion: creating the next generation of top-down action RPGs. Eleventh Hour Games is the developers behind Last Epoch, a title that has built a passionate global community by focusing on deep gameplay systems and high-quality storytelling. Our mission is to empower creators to forge extraordinary games, believing that great work creates passionate people, who in turn become the creators of the future.
At Eleventh Hour Games, we operate on three core pillars:
Open Communication: We believe that transparency across all levels of the studio leads to better creative outcomes.
Close-Knit Teamwork: Despite being a remote studio, we maintain a highly collaborative environment where every voice is heard.
Ownership and Growth: We provide our team members with the opportunity to take true ownership of their work and grow alongside the studio.
The Opportunity: Driving the Vision of Last Epoch
As the Lead VFX Artist, you are the architect of the “feel” of our game. Visual effects in an ARPG are not merely cosmetic; they are the primary feedback loop for the player. From the explosive impact of a physical strike to the intricate swirling of a magical spell, your work ensures that combat is satisfying, clear, and immersive.
You will oversee a team of talented artists, providing the mentorship and technical infrastructure they need to succeed. Simultaneously, you will collaborate with Art Direction, Design, and Engineering to ensure that every particle and shader aligns with the overarching artistic goals and technical constraints of the project.
Detailed Responsibilities as Lead VFX Artist
1. Artistic Creation and Implementation
Real-Time Effects: Design and implement cutting-edge real-time particle effects utilizing static textures combined with animated 2D and 3D elements.
Texture Authoring: Hand-paint and author a wide variety of textures, including particle, decal, and material maps (Color, Normal, Specular, AO, Height, and Emissive).
VFX Geometry: Build simple but effective 3D geometry with proper UV layouts specifically designed to support complex visual effects.
Scene Integration: Place and meticulously tune effects across various game environments, cinematic sequences, and combat encounters to support narrative tone and gameplay clarity.
2. Technical Orchestration and Simulation
Layering and Timing: Orchestrate multi-layered VFX events, managing precise timing and blending to ensure every impact feels believable and heavy.
Complex Simulations: Create and implement simulations for dynamic gameplay elements such as elemental effects (fire, water, lightning), environmental ambience, and object destruction.
Pipeline Refinement: Help establish and continuously refine the Eleventh Hour Games VFX pipeline, ensuring it remains scalable and efficient as the project grows in scope.
3. Optimization and Performance
Frame-Rate Efficiency: Optimize all visual effects to ensure they run smoothly across various hardware configurations, focusing on framerate and memory management.
Quality Preservation: Balance the need for high-performance optimization with the commitment to maintaining industry-leading visual quality.
4. Leadership and Collaboration
Mentorship: Lead a growing team of VFX artists, providing regular constructive feedback, technical guidance, and paths for professional development.
Cross-Departmental Alignment: Work in close proximity with the Engineering and Design teams to ensure VFX enhance gameplay mechanics without cluttering visual information.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent visual language across the entire project while constantly pushing for creative innovation and excellence.
Required Qualifications and Skills
The ideal candidate for this role possesses a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and a refined artistic eye.
Professional Background: At least 7 years of professional experience creating high-end visual effects within real-time game engines.
Leadership Track Record: A minimum of 1 year in a leadership or people management role, with experience in mentoring junior artists or building studio-wide pipelines.
Engine Mastery: Deep technical proficiency in modern game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
Artistic Skills: A strong sense of motion, timing, and impact, with the ability to translate conceptual reference materials into stunning real-time effects.
Technical Artistry: Proficiency in shader creation, particle systems, and specialized VFX tools.
Collaborative Mindset: Excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between technical engineering requirements and artistic vision.
Self-Management: The ability to work independently in a remote environment with minimal oversight while simultaneously driving the output of an entire team.
Preferences and Advantageous Skills
Genre Knowledge: Familiarity with the specific visual requirements and combat pacing of Action RPGs (ARPGs).
Live Service Experience: Understanding of live-service development pipelines and the iterative nature of post-launch content updates.
Cinematic Flair: Experience with cinematic-quality VFX and using visual effects as a tool for environmental storytelling.
Benefits and Inclusive Commitment
Eleventh Hour Games is a part of KRAFTON Americas, an organization committed to full inclusion and equal opportunity.
Remote Work Freedom: This is a fully remote role, allowing you to work from wherever you are most productive.
Ownership and Impact: You will have a significant voice in the development of a major, successful title.
Health and Wellness: Comprehensive benefits package (subject to regional availability).
Reasonable Accommodations: KRAFTON Americas ensures that individuals with disabilities are provided with necessary accommodations during the application process and throughout their employment. To begin the interactive accommodation process, candidates are encouraged to contact the HR Talent team.
How to Apply
If you are a passionate creator who thrives on the “uncomfortable excitement” of merging technology with creativity, we want to see your portfolio. Eleventh Hour Games looking for candidates who don’t just “make effects,” but who craft experiences that leave a meaningful impact on players.
To apply for this job email your details to Recruitment@eleventhhour.games