VFX Artist - RuneScape: Dragonwilds - Fixed Term Contract

Dubizzle Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming studio is seeking a Mid-Level VFX Artist to create high-quality visual effects that enhance gameplay. The role requires collaboration with art, design, animation, and engineering teams to implement and optimize fantasy style effects such as explosions and character abilities. Ideal candidates will have 2–4+ years of experience in the games industry, particularly with Unreal Engine, and a strong foundation in artistic principles. This position offers remote work within the UK with occasional onsite requirements in Cambridge.

Qualifications

• 2–4+ years of experience as a VFX Artist in the games industry, specifically with Unreal Engine.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and work independently.
• Experience creating shaders and materials for VFX.

Responsibilities

• Create fantasy style visual effects including explosions, magic, and UI effects.
• Implement real-time gameplay VFX, ensuring it matches the project’s style.
• Collaborate with Animators and Technical Artists to optimize VFX timing.

Skills

Visual storytelling

Artistic fundamentals

Shader and material creation

Unreal Engine experience

Blueprint implementation

Job description

Location: Cambridge, UK – (Remote available within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year)

This role is a Fixed Term Contract anticipated to end mid-late 2027.

The Mid-Level VFX Artist is responsible for creating high-quality real-time visual effects that enhance gameplay, communicate game mechanics, and elevate the overall player experience. Working closely with art, design, animation, and engineering teams, you will design, build, and implement effects that are visually compelling, performant, and stylistically aligned with the project’s direction. This role balances creative artistry with technical problem-solving, contributing directly to the visual identity and moment-to-moment feel of the game.

What you’ll be doing:

• Create fantasy style visual effects including explosions, magic, weather, environment effects, UI effects, and character abilities.
• Develop and evolve the VFX style so that it fits the world and makes the game as attractive and exciting as possible. Collaborate closely with the wider team to ensure clarity, readability, and gameplay feedback through VFX.
• Work with the Art Director, TA Lead and VFX team to ensure effects match the style, tone, and technical constraints of the project.
• Implement real time gameplay and cinematic VFX, with an optimized from the start approach.
• Collaborate with Animators and Technical Artists to ensure smooth blending between animations, VFX timing, and character actions.
• Collaborate with Environment Artists to maximize mood, appeal and sense of life and movement in all environments in the game.
• Work with a high regard to implementation and performance costs and an active approach to profiling.
• Work within and establish a clean VFX pipeline. Along the way, contributing creative ideas to improve the visual effects pipeline and overall presentation.
• Troubleshoot and fix issues related to VFX behaviour, rendering, lighting, or integration.
• Maintain clear documentation of VFX workflows, naming conventions, and implementation guidelines.
• Provide feedback and occasional mentoring to junior VFX artists.

What we’re looking for:

• 2–4+ years of experience as a VFX Artist in the games industry, in an Unreal-Engine real-time environment.
• Strong artistic fundamentals: colour theory, motion, timing, composition, shape language, and visual storytelling.
• Ability to take direction, give constructive feedback, and work independently when needed.
• Experience creating shaders and materials for VFX.
• Experience implementing VFX using blueprints.
• A curated reel showcasing:
• Gameplay effects (e.g., combat, abilities, impacts).
• Environmental or atmospheric effects (fog, rain, fire, smoke, leaves, dust).
• Use of shaders / materials created for VFX.
• Examples of in-engine implementation.
• Breakdown notes explaining your role, tools used, and any procedural workflows.