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Lead Technical Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

May lead or supervise junior team members. Partial telecommuting permitted. Minimum requirements ... as a Technical Artist, Lead Technical Artist or a related occupation. Must possess academic ...

Scopely is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our unannounced project in person at our Culver City hub, or remotely within the US or Canada. At Scopely, we care deeply about what we do and ...

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY · 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 · 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 ...

Senior Technical Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $212K/yr

May lead or supervise junior team members. Partial telecommuting permitted. Minimum requirements ... as a Technical Artist, Lead Technical Artist or a related occupation. Must possess academic ...

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

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

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

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 · 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 · On-site +1

$144K - $173K/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 ...

Principal Technical Artist

Seattle, WA · 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 ...

Principal Technical Artist

Seattle, WA

$144K - $173K/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 ...

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Lead Technical Artist information

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$11

$34

$68

How much do lead technical artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 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.

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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Technical Artist, and why are they important?

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.

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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,110 per year, or $34.7 per hour.
Senior Technical Artist

Senior Technical Artist

Scopely

San Francisco, CA

$200K - $212K/yr

Other

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Senior Technical Artist (Scopely Explore (formerly known as Niantic)): Develop, document, and maintain best practices
across the entire Tech Art organization. Collaborate with engineering and product teams to develop features
and creative solutions to challenging problems. Collaborate with engineering to evaluate and maintain project
and game health. Build prototypes of experimental features using Unity 3D or other mobile platform tools.
Develop systems, tools, and workflows for efficient content production. Facilitate communication and asset
pipeline between engineering and art teams. Conduct performance evaluations and provide optimization
recommendations. May lead or supervise junior team members. Partial telecommuting permitted.
Minimum requirements: Master's degree or foreign equivalent in Entertainment Technology, Design or
related quantitative field (or foreign equivalent). 4 years of experience in the Job offered, as a Technical Artist,
Lead Technical Artist or a related occupation.
Must possess academic training and/or experience in each of the following: Programming Languages: C#,
C++, Python, Nvidia CG, Max Script, and Mel Script; Game Engines: Unity, Unreal Engine, and Blender Game
Engine; Art Software: Maya, 3Ds Max, and Adobe Photoshop; and Software Development Process Tools:
Rider, Git, and Jira.
Salary: $200,075 to $212,082 a year
APPLY NOW
Job Req. ID 00104466
Greenhouse Link:
To Apply: Any interested applicant may click on the APPLY NOW button above to apply for this
position, or email resume to jobs@nianticlabs.com referencing the job req ID 00104466.