Principal VFX Artist

The Company

Torn Banner Studios (https://tornbanner.com/) is a Toronto, Canada-based independent game development studio founded in 2010. We first made our mark with Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, a multi-million copy selling title that redefined melee combat in gaming. Since then, we’ve continued to grow and innovate, releasing Chivalry 2 and, most recently, No More Room in Hell 2. Today, our team of around 100 developers is dedicated to creating fun, cinematic and social gaming experiences.

The Role

Torn Banner Studios is looking for an experienced Principal VFX Artist to help shape the visual identity of our next multiplayer game.

As the principal VFX expert on the project, you will be responsible for the overall quality, implementation, and technical direction of visual effects across gameplay and cinematics. You will work closely with artists, designers, and programmers to create impactful, polished, and performant effects that bring the game world to life across multiple platforms.

This is a hands-on role for someone who combines artistic vision and technical expertise in Unreal Engine and Niagara. You will also act as the go-to person for VFX within the team, helping establish best practices, mentoring other artists, and ensuring consistency and quality across all VFX deliverables.

Note: While this role can be carried out remotely, candidates are required to be current Ontario or Quebec residents or willing to relocate to Ontario.

Responsibilities  

• Own the overall quality, implementation, and visual direction of VFX across the project, from initial concept to final in-game implementation.
• Design, build, and maintain high-quality particle systems and complex visual effects using Unreal Engine's Niagara system.
• Develop and implement gameplay and cinematic VFX that enhance gameplay readability, feedback, atmosphere, and visual storytelling.
• Write scripts and technical solutions to support complex VFX systems and workflows.
• Work with Niagara Data Channels and other advanced Unreal Engine tools to create dynamic and responsive gameplay effects.
• Create and implement destruction effects, preferably leveraging Houdini and Unreal Engine's Chaos system.
• Profile, debug, and optimize VFX to ensure performance, scalability, and visual quality across multiple platforms.
• Collaborate closely with gameplay programmers, technical artists, designers, and other art disciplines to ensure seamless integration of visual effects.
• Establish and maintain VFX standards, workflows, and best practices across the project.
• Mentor and support VFX artists, providing technical guidance and artistic feedback.

Requirements 

• 8+ years of professional experience creating real-time visual effects in the video game industry.
• Experience working on at least 2 shipped games within AA or AAA productions.
• Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine and its Niagara VFX system.
• Strong technical skills, including the ability to build complex particle systems, write scripts, and troubleshoot advanced VFX implementations.
• Experience creating both gameplay-focused and cinematic visual effects.
• Strong understanding of real-time rendering, performance profiling, and optimization techniques.
• Experience with destruction workflows and systems, ideally using Houdini and Unreal Engine Chaos.
• A good artistic eye, with the ability to create visually compelling effects that complement the game's art direction and gameplay.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and mentoring other artists.
• A Demo reel showcasing most recent work.

Bonus Points  

• Previous experience as a VFX Lead or in a senior ownership role, overseeing VFX deliverables and workflows.
• Experience with Niagara Data Channels.
• Familiarity with Embergen.

Benefits & Perks

• 6.5 weeks paid vacation
• Eligible for Employee Stock Options Plan
• Flexible schedule and work location, with your choice of remote, hybrid, or on-site.
• Healthcare & benefits plan, for you and your family
• 100% parental leave top-up for 16 weeks, for Canadian employees.

To see our team, our office and what we do as a company visit We are Torn Banner Studios (http://tornbanner.com/careers) .

Torn Banner Studios welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Compensation

• The pay range for this role is $120,000 - $170,000 per year. The range for this role represents candidates across a wide range of skills and experience for the position. Increased salaries may be achievable for those who have achieved mastery and deep industry knowledge over time. Your specific offer will rely on your unique experience and alignment to our team's needs for the position.

Transparency on use of AI and position vacancy

• Our recruitment process does not use artificial intelligence to automatically screen, assess, or select applicants. All decisions on progressing, rejecting, and offering candidates are made by human reviewers.
• One AI–enabled tool that may be used during the interview process is that of interview recording, transcription, and summarizing. Again, this would not make decisions, but simply make reviewing the notes easier. We will always ask for the candidate's approval before using such a tool.
• In compliance with Ontario regulations, the advertised posting is for a currently vacant position.

- 8+ years of professional experience in real-time VFX for video games - Experience on at least 2 shipped AA or AAA productions - Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine and Niagara VFX system - Strong technical skills for building complex particle systems and writing scripts - Experience creating gameplay-focused and cinematic VFX - Strong understanding of real-time rendering, profiling, and optimization - Experience with destruction workflows (Houdini, Unreal Engine Chaos) - Artistic eye for visually compelling effects - Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and mentoring artists - Demo reel showcasing recent work