Senior VFX Artist

Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue in Las Vegas opened in September 2023. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at sphereentertainmentco.com.

Who are we hiring?

As a Senior VFX Art Specialist at Sphere Studios you develop entertainment that’s equal

parts video game, amusement park ride, and spectacle. Your target platform is The Sphere – a massive 16K 4D theater with beam-formed audio – and the mobile phones of our guests. You build from specifications and team objectives and iterate to eventual production-quality deliverables. You’re part of a veteran cross-functional team, learning from each other every day. As an ideal candidate you bring a solid artistic foundation in 3D art and a broad range of skills including gameplay, props and real-time and standard production art pipelines. You have a passion for gaming and can create immersive, exciting work.

What will you do?

• Create photo-real particle systems for game environment.
• Work closely with the Creative Director and others to maintain stunning visual style and quality to bring levels and features to life
• Design and simulate realistic fire, smoke, explosions, debris, clouds, energy, etc. that meet all technical and aesthetic standards for the project
• Author real-time particle effects for the destruction of buildings, vehicles, natural environments, and everything in between
• Set dress levels with ambient atmospheric effects that produce spectacular photo-realistic game moments
• Create textures and/or meshes to use in particle effects with various 2D and 3D applications including flipbooks
• Ensure industry leading quality and artistic fidelity for photo-real effects
• Promote and enforce structure, such as naming conventions and documentation
• Provide in-depth research, reference material, and develop conceptual ideas from scratch
• This role is part of a production artist group exploring and developing a unique language for Sphere, in collaboration with a creative development team
• Must be passionate for games
  
  

What do you need to succeed?

• Minimum of 4 years in full-cycle AAA game development or equivalent film/tv experience
• Highly proficient with the Unreal Engine including Niagara and the material editor
• Ability to simulate realistic fire, smoke, explosions, debris, clouds, etc. that meet all technical and aesthetic standards for the project
• Passion for fluid dynamics pushing fidelity and refining techniques as technology changes
• Excellent texture and flipbook creation skills
• Aware of memory and technical constraints while working, and can balance visual quality with performance
  
  

Desired Skills

• Experience with simulation and VFX software like FumeFX, Houdini, Embergen, Fluid Ninja, Maya, Max, etc.
• Demonstrate a strong eye for timing, weight, realism, color, volume, energy, and other particle aesthetics
• Strong collaborative skills and interpersonal skills
• Ability to act effectively in a dynamic development environment
• Capable of working on own initiative, identify problems and offer practical solutions
• Ability to interpret and transform abstract ideas and concepts into compelling work
• Modeling and animation experience
  
  

Special Requirements

• Cover Letter (optional)
• Portfolio demonstrating relevant skills.
• Only digital artwork submissions such a website, blog, or online album will be accepted.
  
  

Pay Range

$96,000—$160,000 USD

At MSG, we recognize the importance of upskilling employees’ talents and strengths so they can drive their careers forward. We are proud to offer a robust set of tools and resources to help employees understand their interests and purpose, harness their talents and obtain the skills they need to reach the next step in their careers. Growth and longevity for our employees are top priorities here.

We value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! MSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, MSG complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.