1

Associate Technical Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Technical Director

Cortland, NY · On-site

$52K/yr

Position Details Position Information Budget Title Instructional Support Associate Campus Title Technical Director School/Division Academic Affairs, Division of Department Performing Arts Staff Sub ...

Associate Artist, FX The Job Avalanche, a division of WB Games Inc., is seeking an Associate ... technical trouble-shooting and problem solving. What Part will you Play * Use Unreal 5, industry ...

Graphic Artist

Pilot Mountain, NC · On-site

$30K - $40K/yr

... detailed technical drawings, and other relevant design software. Strong understanding of print ... Associate's degree in Graphic Design or related field, with a portfolio demonstrating creative ...

Graphic Artist

Pilot Mountain, NC · On-site

$108K - $130K/yr

... detailed technical drawings, and other relevant design software. Strong understanding of print ... Associate's degree in Graphic Design or related field, with a portfolio demonstrating creative ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Associate Technical Artist information

See salary details

$95.5K

$138.7K

$153.5K

How much do associate technical artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate technical artist in the United States is $138,713.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,000.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do EA technical artists make?

EA technical artists typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and skill set. Salaries can vary based on the complexity of projects, proficiency with tools like Maya or Unreal Engine, and industry demand.

What kind of jobs in media bring in $150,000 a year?

In media, roles such as senior technical artists, lead visual effects artists, or game developers with extensive experience and specialized skills can earn $150,000 or more annually. These positions often require advanced knowledge of tools like Maya, Houdini, or Unreal Engine, along with strong technical and artistic expertise. High-level roles in large companies or those involving project management and leadership tend to offer higher salaries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Technical Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Technical Artist, you need a solid background in 3D art fundamentals, scripting (such as Python or MEL), and a relevant degree or equivalent experience in game development, animation, or computer graphics. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Maya, Unity or Unreal Engine, and version control systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure you can efficiently bridge the gap between artists and programmers, contributing to smooth production workflows and high-quality visual outcomes.

What is the 80/20 rule for artists?

The 80/20 rule for artists suggests that approximately 80% of results come from 20% of efforts, meaning focusing on the most impactful tasks or skills can significantly improve productivity and quality. For associate technical artists, prioritizing core skills like shader development, scripting, and asset optimization aligns with this principle to maximize efficiency in their workflow.

What is the difference between Associate Technical Artist vs Technical Artist?

AspectAssociate Technical ArtistTechnical Artist
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in art, computer science, or related fieldSame as Associate, often with more experience or advanced skills
Work EnvironmentEntry to mid-level role supporting art and technical teams in game or animation studiosMid-level role focusing on bridging art and technical development
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with asset integration, troubleshooting, and pipeline supportDesigning tools, optimizing assets, and improving workflows

The Associate Technical Artist and Technical Artist roles share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. The main difference lies in experience level and scope of responsibilities, with the Technical Artist typically taking on more complex tasks and leadership in technical art pipelines.

What are some common challenges faced by Associate Technical Artists when bridging the gap between artists and programmers?

Associate Technical Artists often encounter the challenge of translating creative ideas from artists into technically feasible assets that meet the requirements set by programmers and game engines. This role requires strong communication and problem-solving skills, as you’ll frequently need to troubleshoot compatibility issues, optimize assets for performance, and ensure visual fidelity. Collaborating across multiple teams, you may also face tight deadlines and shifting priorities, making adaptability an essential trait. Over time, mastering these challenges can lead to greater autonomy and opportunities to specialize in areas like shader development or pipeline automation.

What are Associate Technical Artists?

Associate Technical Artists are entry-level professionals who bridge the gap between artists and programmers in industries like video games, animation, and visual effects. They help ensure that artistic assets are efficiently integrated into the technical pipeline, often working on tasks such as optimizing 3D models, developing tools for artists, and troubleshooting rendering issues. This role is crucial for maintaining both the visual quality and performance of digital projects. Associate Technical Artists typically collaborate closely with both the art and engineering teams, learning and applying technical skills such as scripting, shader development, and asset optimization. Over time, they may specialize further or progress into more senior technical art roles.

What jobs can I get with an associate's degree in art?

An associate's degree in art can qualify you for roles such as an associate technical artist, graphic designer, or multimedia specialist. These positions often involve skills in digital tools like Adobe Creative Suite or 3D modeling software and may require a portfolio to demonstrate your work.
More about Associate Technical Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Associate Technical Artist jobs? Cities with the most Associate Technical Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Technical Artist jobs? The most popular types of Technical Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Associate Technical Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Associate Technical Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Associate Technical Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $138,713 per year, or $66.7 per hour.

Senior Unreal Technical Artist

Pure Imagination Management LLC

Salina, KS • On-site

$120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Senior Unreal Technical Artist

Job Location: Salina, Kansas

About Us

Pure Imagination Studios started in 2012 as a diversified entertainment company built by a team of creators who shared a true passion for storytelling. We thrive on imagination, and everything we do is set to bring a tangible experience to anything our clients, partners and even ourselves, are able to imagine. We believe that pure imagination should be the fuel to our reality.

Pure Imagination Labs designs immersive, interactive experiences that make complex training and simulation intuitive, purposeful, and fun. Our projects blend real-time systems, tactile interfaces, and narrative framing to support education, decision-making, teamwork, and user engagement in high-stakes scenarios. We take the best of game design and apply it to real-world learning environments that demand more than just entertainment. The environments are dynamic, the challenges are varied, and the work is as rewarding as it is technically ambitious.

Overview


Pure Imagination Labs' Senior Unreal Technical Artist owns asset integration and performance readiness in Unreal Engine. Optimizes externally authored content for real-time use, manages LODs, lightmaps, and asset organization. Builds lightweight tools and utilities to streamline asset validation and pipeline efficiency. Supports install-phase testing, visual troubleshooting, and cross-discipline content alignment.


Responsibilities

  • Own the technical quality and performance-readiness of real-time 3D content across environments, props, and characters in Unreal Engine.
  • Integrate and optimize externally authored assets, ensuring they meet runtime standards for fidelity, performance, and compatibility.
  • Prepare and refine content for clean import—including naming, scale, collisions, UVs, LODs, and lightmaps—while maintaining project structure and technical discipline.
  • Tune scene and asset performance using Nanite, Lumen, level streaming, and profiling tools to support stability across cinematic and interactive contexts.
  • Collaborate closely with art, design, and engineering to ensure assets are readable, performant, and function as expected across physical-digital systems.
  • Develop lightweight tools or process enhancements using Blueprint, Python, or similar scripting methods to improve asset integration, workflow efficiency, and content validation.
  • Support in-world testing and install readiness by troubleshooting asset behavior, visual bugs, or runtime issues in staging and QA environments.
  • Contribute to visual consistency across materials, surfacing, simple VFX, and animated elements as needed to support experience delivery.
  • Assist in defining content conventions and scalable practices that support future reuse, optimization, and multi-team collaboration.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

  • Associate’s degree or equivalent from two-year college/technical school required.
  • Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university is preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum 5 to 8 years of experience working in Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) as a technical artist, 3D generalist, or real-time content integrator.
  • Solid working knowledge with Unreal systems, including Nanite, Lumen, LODs, collisions, lightmaps, and performance profiling.
  • Proficiency with DCC tools such as Maya, Blender, Substance, or Houdini for asset prep, optimization, and content validation.
  • Proficient in runtime performance considerations and scalable content structuring for team-based delivering clarity.
  • Familiarity with scripting or automation tools such as Unreal Blueprint, Python, or similar, to support asset integration, workflow efficiency, or content validation.
  • Collaborative team member able to work between art, design, and engineering groups to support cohesive real-time experiences.

Additional Qualifications

  • Proven ability preparing assets for cinematic cutscenes or physically installed environments.
  • Experience supporting immersive or simulation-based projects in a real-time production context.
  • Solid foundation with Sequencer, Control Rig, or Niagara from a content staging or testing perspective.
  • Exposure to in-editor utilities such as material switching, proxy replacement, or asset validation tools.
  • Proven ability to contribute to pipeline decisions or scaling asset workflows across external vendors or multi-project teams.
  • Flexibility to travel for live staging and working on-site for installations, tests, or technical rehearsals.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal teams, external vendors, and other stakeholders.
  • Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.

o Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week.

o Required Residence: This candidate must live or reside in the state of Kansas; or relocate within six (6) months of offered employment.

o Required Travel: This candidate is required to travel up to 15% for specific project installations.

The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), medical leave, and a variety of other perks. A bonus and incentive plan may be provided as part of the compensation package, dependent on the level and position offered.

Learn more about the opportunities offered by Pure Imagination by visiting the Careers page of the company website.


Annual Salary: $120,000 (bonus eligible)

Pure Imagination Studios is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).