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Lead Technical Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AGBO Films LLC

Lead Technical Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

AGBO is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our Interactive team. This is a generalist hands on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art and engineering - equally ...

AGBO

Lead Technical Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

AGBO is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our Interactive team. This is a generalist hands on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art and engineering - equally ...

AGBO

Lead Technical Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

AGBO is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our Interactive team. This is a generalist hands on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art and engineering equally ...

AGBO

Lead Technical Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$100 - $170/hr

AGBO is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our Interactive team. This is a generalist hands‑on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art and engineering - equally ...

The Mill

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 ...

The Mill

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 ...

NxT Level

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

Booming Games

Technical Artist

Oregon, WI · On-site

$70 - $110/hr

As a Technical Artist, you will work closely with the Art Lead and Product Owner to create visually stunning games. Your responsibilities will include preparing, exporting, optimizing, and ...

NxT Level

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

Crossroads

Technical Artist

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$55 - $75/hr

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 graphics ...

Crossroads Church

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 ...

Crossroads Church

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 ...

Parallel Domain

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 ...

Parallel Domain

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 ...

Parallel Domain

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 ...

2K

Senior Artist, Technical (Rigger) - NBA 2K

Boise, ID · On-site

$54 - $75/hr

This role reports to the Lead Technical Artist. What You Will Do: * Update our character rigs to improve deformation and more accurately simulate human anatomy * Create math node networks to make new ...

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Lead Technical Artist information

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$34

$68

How much do lead technical artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 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:

What job categories do people searching Lead Technical Artist jobs look for?

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Lead Technical Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Technical Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% 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.

Lead Technical Artist

AGBO Films LLC

Raleigh, NC • On-site

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

About the Company:
Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the future of film and television. The Russo Brothers and AGBO have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office, including Avengers: Endgame. The studio's projects include Academy Award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix hits The Gray Man and Extraction, and Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 premieres in May 2026.
AGBO is currently in production with Netflix on Tygo and Mercenary, both part of the Extraction universe, as well as with Lionsgate on John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic franchise. The studio is in post-production on The Whisper Man, starring Robert De Niro, and Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released December 18, 2026. AGBO will begin shooting Avengers: Secret Wars later this year. Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and Marvel Studios.
In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of Fortnite-as a partner. Mustard brings a bold creative vision to AGBO: to expand what storytelling can be through immersive, interconnected worlds that span across media. We're building the future of storytelling-and we're looking for bold, creative minds to help shape it. If you're ready to help define what comes next, we'd love to meet you.
Position Summary:
AGBO is looking for a Lead Technical Artist to join our Interactive team. This is a generalist hands on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of art and engineering - equally comfortable troubleshooting a shader, optimizing a character rig, refining lighting set up or building the tools that make an entire art team faster and more effective. You will set technical direction, and establish best practice.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Serve as the lead of the Technical Artist team, providing mentorship, code/workflow review, and day-to-day guidance to other technical artists
  • Work across multiple disciplines - lighting, character, environment, VFX and animation - providing generalist technical art support wherever it's needed
  • Design, build, and maintain shaders that balance visual fidelity with real-time performance
  • Develop and maintain custom tools and pipelines (DCC plugins, in-engine editor tools, asset validation/ automation) that improves artist workflows and production efficiency
  • Partner closely with engineering, art direction, and production to define technical standards, budgets, and best practices across disciplines
  • Diagnose and resolve technical artist issues related to rigging, shading, lighting, and asset optimization
  • Own the technical art pipeline end-to-end, identifying bottlenecks and proactively building solutions before they become blockers
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with art, engineering, and production leads to ensure technical feasibility
  • Perform all other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skills:
  • Proven experience as as Technical Artist with a generalist background spanning lighting, character, and environment art ; Prior lead experience strongly preferred
  • Strong hands-on shader development experience (HLSL/GLSL, node-based shader graphs, or engine-specific shader languages)
  • Demonstrated experience building custom tools and pipelines to support art workflows
  • Deep familiarity with Unreal Engine and standard DCC tools (Maya, Blender, Houdini, Substance, ZBrush, etc.)
  • Solid understanding of rigging, character setup, lighting workflows, and environment/asset optimization for real-time rendering
  • Experience leading or mentoring a team of technical artists with strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • A problem-solving mindset with the ability to move fluidly between hands-on production work and high-level pipeline/tooling strategy
  • Passion for interactive storytelling and a strong eye for visual quality balanced with technical performance.

Additional Information:
  • Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

AGBO Labs LLC is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We aim to recruit the right people for the jobs we have to offer, and to assess applications on the basis of relevant skills, education and experience.
AGBO participates in E-Verify - English | Spanish
The job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position.

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