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Unity Technical Artist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Work closely with Art Directors, Technical Artists, and Game Designers to maintain consistency in ... Understanding of additional engines like Unity or Unreal Benefits $30 - $45 per hour EEO Statement ...

Roblox 3D Artist

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site +1

$30 - $45/hr

Work closely with Art Directors, Technical Artists, and Game Designers to maintain consistency in ... Understanding of additional engines like Unity or Unreal Benefits $30 - $45 per hour EEO Statement ...

Lead Environment Artist

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$174.80 - $221.82/hr

You'll shape the vision, push creative and technical boundaries, and foster a culture of ... Unity. * Understand performance optimization, PBR workflows, UV layouts, and world-building ...

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Unity Technical Artist information

See California salary details

$94.2K

$136.9K

$151.5K

How much do unity technical artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for unity technical artist in California is $136,897.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,300.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Unity Technical Artist, you need a strong understanding of both artistic principles and technical workflows, often supported by experience in 3D modeling, shader development, and familiarity with C# scripting. Expertise in Unity3D, proficiency with tools like Maya or Blender, and knowledge of graphics optimization techniques are highly valued, and certification in Unity or related platforms can be beneficial. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate across artistic and engineering teams will help you stand out. These combined skills enable efficient production of visually compelling, high-performance interactive content in collaborative game or simulation development environments.

What typical challenges do Unity Technical Artists encounter in their daily work?

Unity Technical Artists often face challenges such as balancing visual fidelity with performance optimization, ensuring that assets run smoothly on target platforms without sacrificing artistic intent. They are frequently required to troubleshoot technical issues, like shader errors or asset integration problems, while collaborating closely with both artists and programmers to implement creative solutions. Managing changing project requirements and adapting to rapid technological advancements in real-time rendering can also be demanding. These challenges make the role both dynamic and rewarding for those who enjoy creative problem-solving at the intersection of art and technology.

What is a Unity Technical Artist?

A Unity Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and engineering by optimizing assets, developing tools, and ensuring smooth visual implementation in Unity projects. They work closely with artists and programmers to enhance performance, create shaders, automate workflows, and troubleshoot issues. Their goal is to maintain visual quality while ensuring efficiency in real-time applications like games, AR/VR, and simulations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Unity Technical Artist jobs in California? The most popular types of Unity Technical Artist jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Unity Technical Artist jobs in California? For Unity Technical Artist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Unity Technical Artist jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Unity Technical Artist jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Unity Technical Artist jobs? Cities in California with the most Unity Technical Artist job openings:
Infographic showing various Unity Technical Artist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $136,897 per year, or $65.8 per hour.

Principal Tools & Pipeline Technical Artist - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$136K - $163K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

As a Technical Artist for Tools/Pipeline, you'll employ your expert-level knowledge of 3D tools to build tools, maintain pipelines, and provide technical support for artists on their most critical missions. You will establish and improve the systems, tools, rigs, assets, and workflows that unleash the creativity of our artists and allow the production of the best possible art content for our players. And you will critique work, mentor fellow Rioters, and foster the long-term growth of a group of artists.
As a Principal Tools & Pipeline Technical Artist on an unpublished R&D product, you'll focus on building the tools and tech used for content development on an upcoming game project. This will involve building pipelines and workflows for DCC (Digital Content Creation) software, and consulting with art to discover the best possible solutions to the challenges the project team faces. You report directly to the Technical Art Director of the project.

Responsibilities:
  • Communicate a cohesive vision and standard for art vision, artistic workflows, and pipelines based on the Art Director and Creative Director's visions.
  • Assist in evaluating new systems and technology that support the artistic, product, and gameplay goals.
  • Help to identify new opportunities to incorporate technology to increase art workflow efficiency and unlock new creative opportunities.
  • Amplify artistic capabilities while maintaining efficient and sustainable memory and performance
  • Lead the team in identifying new opportunities to incorporate technology to increase art workflow efficiency and unlock new creative opportunities
  • Partner with other Technical Art leaders at the studio to develop a cohesive vision and shared standards across the Technical Art discipline
Required Qualifications:ย 
  • 7+ years of professional experience as a technical artist in games or related industries
  • Professional experience working within the games industry
  • Expertise in industry-standard content creation tools, such as Maya, and commercial game engines (i.e. Unreal, Unity, etc.)
  • Fluency in modern scripting languages and related UI frameworks, such as Python and PyQt/PySide
  • Experience problem-solving and communicating with multiple art disciplines and acting as an ambassador between art and engineering
Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience in game development using Unreal
  • Experience writing shaders and working in HLSL
  • Understanding of 3D modeling, efficient UV layouts, and materials
  • Strong understanding of current console art pipelines

When submitting your application, please provide a portfolio of your high-quality tech art - including stylized artwork. And as a part of the application process, you may also be asked to complete an art test.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, weย put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.

It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the Sanย Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.ย 


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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

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