1

Lead Technical Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY ยท On-site

$139K - $166K/yr

The Mill is looking for an accomplished Technical Artist with UE4 Blueprints development skills ... Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using ...

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY

$139K - $166K/yr

The Mill is looking for an accomplished Technical Artist with UE4 Blueprints development skills ... Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using ...

$79.93 - $125.60/hr

About the job HOLOGATE is looking for a skilled and versatile Lead Technical Artist (f/d/m) to strengthen our Art & Development teams. In this role, you will work at the intersection of art and ...

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX ... Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX ... Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx

Technical Artist

Cincinnati, OH

$121K - $145K/yr

Job Summary This role works under the direction of the Lead Technical Artist and in close collaboration with Experience Team creatives to translate creative vision and produce animation, cohesive ...

Technical Artist

Cincinnati, OH ยท On-site

$121K - $145K/yr

Job Summary This role works under the direction of the Lead Technical Artist and in close collaboration with Experience Team creatives to translate creative vision and produce animation, cohesive ...

Principal Technical Artist

Seattle, WA ยท On-site +1

$144K - $173K/yr

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

We're hiring a Principal Technical Artist to bring the next generation of these workflows into ... We're not asking you to manage people, but we expect you to lead by example on the craft side. Your ...

Principal Technical Artist

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$144K - $173K/yr

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

We're hiring a Principal Technical Artist to bring the next generation of these workflows into ... We're not asking you to manage people, but we expect you to lead by example on the craft side. Your ...

Principal Technical Artist

Seattle, WA ยท Remote

$130K - $155K/yr

We're hiring a Principal Technical Artist to bring the next generation of these workflows into ... We're not asking you to manage people, but we expect you to lead by example on the craft side. Your ...

Sr. AI Video Technical Artist

Manhattan Beach, CA ยท On-site

$135K - $161K/yr

The Senior AI Video Technical Artist is a hands-on production role owning AI shot execution ... Ownership boundaries: the Creative Technology Team lead owns platform architecture, approved ...

Sr. AI Video Technical Artist

Manhattan Beach, CA ยท On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

The Senior AI Video Technical Artist is a hands-on production role owning AI shot execution ... Ownership boundaries: the Creative Technology Team lead owns platform architecture, approved ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Lead Technical Artist information

See salary details

$11

$34

$68

How much do lead technical artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead technical artist in the United States is $34.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.67 and $46.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Lead Technical Artist do?

A Lead Technical Artist acts as a bridge between the art and programming teams in game or visual effects development. They are responsible for optimizing art assets, developing and maintaining art production pipelines, and ensuring that the artistic vision is achieved within technical constraints. Lead Technical Artists also mentor junior team members, troubleshoot technical issues, and help implement new tools or workflows to improve efficiency. Their role is critical in ensuring high-quality visuals without sacrificing performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Technical Artist?

To thrive as a Lead Technical Artist, you need a strong background in 3D art, computer graphics, and scripting, often supported by a degree in art, computer science, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya, Houdini, Unreal Engine or Unity, as well as familiarity with shader programming and version control systems, is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate across disciplines and guide teams effectively. These abilities are crucial for bridging the gap between artists and engineers, ensuring both visual quality and technical efficiency in game or media production pipelines.

How does a Lead Technical Artist typically collaborate with other departments, such as engineering and design, during a game development project?

A Lead Technical Artist serves as a vital bridge between the art, engineering, and design teams, ensuring that artistic vision aligns with technical constraints. They work closely with artists to develop efficient pipelines, collaborate with engineers to implement new tools or optimize performance, and consult with designers to ensure visual elements support gameplay objectives. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as the role often involves translating creative ideas into technically feasible solutions while maintaining project deadlines.

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

AspectLead Technical ArtistTechnical Artist
ResponsibilitiesOversees technical art pipelines, mentors team, ensures art integration qualityDevelops tools, supports artists, implements technical solutions
Required SkillsAdvanced technical skills, leadership, project managementStrong technical skills, scripting, art pipeline knowledge
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, cross-department collaborationHands-on technical support, collaboration with artists and programmers
Industry UsageCommon in large studios, AAA titlesWidespread across various game development sizes

The main difference is that a Lead Technical Artist manages and guides the technical art team, focusing on leadership and pipeline oversight, while a Technical Artist primarily develops tools and supports artists with technical solutions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Lead Technical Artist also emphasizes team management and strategic planning.

More about Lead Technical Artist jobs

What states have the most Lead Technical Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Lead Technical Artist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Lead Technical Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,110 per year, or $34.7 per hour.

Technical Artist

The Mill

Manhattan, NY โ€ข On-site

$139K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

Company Description
The Mill has been creating world-class visual effects built on creative excellence and cutting-edge technologies for over twenty-eight years. We believe in creating work that touches people emotionally, that becomes popular culture and that people love, talk about and want to share. We believe in great ideas beautifully told.
Job Description
The Mill is looking for an accomplished Technical Artist with UE4 Blueprints development skills. The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of art and animation pipelines in general and of the content creation pipeline and Blueprints system in Unreal. A high level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual instincts is critical. The Technical Artist will assist teams of artists in tackling projects and be equipped to provide support on complicated technical issues within Unreal.
Qualifications
Role Responsibilities:
  • Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using Unreal
  • Experience/Gameplay Creation - Create interaction and functionality using Unreal's Blueprints system
  • Material Creation - Design complex materials in Unreal and instruct artists on best practices for material creation
  • Lighting - Be well versed in the various lighting techniques in Unreal and instruct the artists in lighting best practices
  • Optimisation - Optimise content through profiling and enhancing performance with the help of diagnostic tools and instructing the artists on modelling and texturing best practices
  • Collaborate with other developers to develop and test new features, prototype shader code, and provide useful feedback during R&D phases

Technical Requirements:
  • Extensive experience working with Unreal Engine
  • Advanced experience of Unreal's Blueprints system
  • Advanced experience with Maya (3dsMax considered)
  • Comfortable in a range of content creation software including Photoshop, Zbrush/Mudbox, Allegorithmic Substance Designer/Painter

Beneficial Additional Skills (not essential to the role but would help differentiate candidates):
  • Experience with VR/AR authoring in Unreal
  • Maya Rigging experience
  • Shader programming experience
  • Scripting skills with MEL, Python, C#, Javascript and C++

Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.