Contract VFX Artist
Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game " Poppy Playtime" . This franchise is one of the hottest new properties in gaming, and our team is naturally expanding as our ambition expands. To give a taste of our brand's popularity, more than 100 billion YouTube views of Poppy Playtime related content have occurred since the game's launch 4 years ago.
The Role
We’re looking for a Contract VFX Artist to help bring our worlds to life through high-quality, real-time visual effects. You’ll play a key role in creating atmospheric, stylized, and gameplay-driven effects that enhance immersion, tension, and player feedback.
This is a hands-on role focused on execution and iteration, working closely with art, design, and engineering to deliver polished in-game effects on a defined timeline.
What You’ll Do
Create high-quality real-time VFX for gameplay, environments, and cinematics (particles, shaders, lighting effects, etc.)
Design and implement effects that enhance player feedback, readability, and emotional impact
Work within Unreal Engine (Niagara preferred) to build, iterate, and polish effects
Collaborate with art direction to ensure consistency with the game’s visual style and tone
Partner with designers to support gameplay clarity and moment-to-moment feedback
Optimize VFX for performance, memory, and scalability across target platforms
Iterate quickly based on feedback and production needs
Maintain clean organization and documentation of VFX assets
What We’re Looking For
3+ years of experience creating real-time VFX for games
Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality, stylized, and/or atmospheric effects
Experience with Unreal Engine (Niagara strongly preferred) or similar real-time engines
Solid understanding of shaders, materials, and particle systems
Ability to balance visual quality with performance constraints
Strong collaboration and communication skills
Ability to work independently and deliver assets on schedule in a contract environment
Nice to Have
Experience working on horror or atmospheric games
Knowledge of Houdini or procedural VFX workflows
Basic scripting or technical art experience
Experience shipping at least one game title
Familiarity with console and multi-platform optimization
Contract Rate:
The contract rate for this position is listed below. Final compensation within the applicable salary range will be determined based on factors such as the applicant’s experience, qualifications, and work location.
San Francisco, CA; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; & Seattle, WA DC Metropolitan Areas: $37 - $54 USD hourly
Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; & Miami, FL Metropolitan Areas: $33 - $47 USD hourly
All Other U.S. Locations: $28 - $40 USD hourly
Mob Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and complies with all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, military service, or any other protected class under applicable state or local law. Mob Entertainment also considers all qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with Fair Chance laws as well as any other applicable state and local laws.