City State Entertainment is an independent video game development studio founded in March 2011, in Fairfax, Virginia. The studio embodies an “open office” collaborative process where all team members are expected to contribute to the design and the development process. The team has built a next-generation engine tentatively titled the "Unchained Engine" which is powering their two games in development - Camelot Unchained, a niche RvR old-school MMORPG (currently in Beta) and Final Stand: Ragnarok, a PvE looter-slasher in which teams of any size fight against hordes of NPCs (currently in very Early Access on Steam).

We are currently looking for creative and driven technical artists to join us to support our art and rendering team. Our interest includes not just generalist Tech Artists, but also any experienced tech artists with specialities.

Examples:
Tech Artist - Pipeline/tools
Tech Artist - Shaders/Materials
Tech Artist - Animator - Rigging

So if you’re a tech artist with the vision to develop tools, passion for finding technical solutions and improving pipelines or are render focused with drive and skills to develop shaders and material effects, we are interested across the board.

Role and Responsibilities:
Technical Artists are a critical role that will work together with artists and engineers to drive the visual development of our projects forward, with the opportunity to be part of direction and vision, as well as guiding other artists. Collaborating with artists and others roles may include: generating high quality shaders, materials, scripts and rigs. Designs and developing improved content creation pipelines and workflows.

What we are looking for:
• 2 or more years in games development in a technical art role
• Intimately familiar with physically based rendering, shaders (HLSL), and physically based material systems
• Cognizance of new graphics techniques and ability to drive meaningful improvements to the overall graphical quality of the game.
• Experience working with developers to update tools and pipeline processes for artists.
• Solid understanding of Substance Suite, Zbrush, and Maya.
• Experience with optimization for performant art without sacrificing visual fidelity and quality.
• Able to resolve unique technical challenges in creative and novel manner.
• Great time management and ability to work with deadlines and multiple competing priorities.
• Strong communication ability particularly between engineers and artists.

Bonus:
• Strong knowledge of the MMO industry and PC gaming industry
• Able to provide concise critique and feedback to help raise other artists' skill level.
• C++ and/or engineering experience.
• Understanding of the process of rigging and animation creation, as well as animation techniques.

Note: City State Entertainment is hiring for a broad range of positions on a growing team. We have definite skill and task needs, but the eventual division of tasks within the team will depend on the eventual team members. If you’re an outstanding and talented individual whose qualifications fall halfway between two of our listings, we’d still like to hear from you. All candidates must have excellent communication skills. We are an emphatically equal-opportunity employer.