2K Logo

2K

Shader Technical Artist

Posted 2 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Hybrid
San Mateo, CA, USA
86K-127K Annually
Mid level
Hybrid
San Mateo, CA, USA
86K-127K Annually
Mid level
Create, maintain, and optimize shaders and master materials in Unreal Engine (node-based graphs and HLSL/GLSL/CG) to meet artistic goals and performance constraints. Collaborate across teams to define shader standards, build shading validation tools, profile and optimize pipelines, and support material usability for multiple platforms.
The summary above was generated by AI

WE ARE GAME MAKERS

Who We Are:

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and inspired by a culture of inclusivity to build amazing games that thrill players everywhere. We pursue growth and innovation in an environment of safety and trust. Our culture is built on the belief that the more varied voices in our collective will strengthen our team and our games.  We are looking for our next teammate who will raise our bar and make us better.

What We Need:

We’re seeking a Shader Technical Artist to leverage their technical skills and artistic understanding to help develop and maintain a strong shader pipeline that will serve teams across multiple disciplines. Your passion, knowledge, and experience will be integral to the look and style of a new generation of player-driven experiences, stemming from your ability to create high-quality shaders and technology that bring life to the worlds we build.

Who You Are:


  • Utilize extensive experience in Unreal Engine to meticulously craft and optimize shader/master materials using Unreal Engine’s node-based shader graph and HLSL/GLSL/CG shader code, ensuring they are built cleanly and efficiently for seamless integration and user-friendly utilization by the materials team.
  • Collaborate with development teams to establish and uphold artistic and technical shader standards, pushing the boundaries of real-time rendering while adhering to performance constraints.
  • Assist in driving the development of innovative approaches to address complex technical and creative challenges, participating in the creation of shaders, shading validation tools, and defining shading standards.
  • Provide technical support in identifying and resolving inefficient content pipelines, conducting performance profiling, and optimizing shaders to enhance overall visual fidelity and maintain desired frame rates.

What Will Make You a Great Fit:

  • 4 years of experience or 2+ shipped titles in a Technical Art role.
  • Proficiency in creating stylized and PBR shaders using node-based shader editors, tiled layered material systems, shader networks, procedural texturing, and HLSL code. 
  • Understanding of the technical foundations behind visually stunning textures and shaders in a physically-based rendering pipeline. 
  • Ability to communicate and collaborate across disciplines, sharing ideas and articulating visions.
  • Familiarity with all the tools, techniques, and asset creation pipelines: UE5, Substance Designer, Substance Painter, Photoshop, modeling, baking, and texturing.

Bonus Experience:

  • Experience in Unreal Engine’s node-based shader graph.
  • Strong understanding of console, PC, and mobile platforms, and how to scale shaders to optimize for each.


The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $85,700 and $126,860 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. 
Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefi ts at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefi ts; and reimbursements for fi tness-related expenses. Ontario only: The use of Artifi cial Intelligence is not being used to screen candidates. The position is for an existing vacancy.

#LI-Onsite
#LI-Hybrid

2K San Mateo, California, USA Office

2K 31st Union Office

San Mateo, CA, United States

Similar Jobs at 2K

Yesterday
Hybrid
150K-180K Annually
Expert/Leader
150K-180K Annually
Expert/Leader
Gaming • Information Technology • Mobile • Software • Esports
Leads and mentors character artists while establishing visual quality standards, workflows, and reference assets in Unreal Engine. Collaborates across art, design, gameplay, animation, and engineering teams to create stylized character assets for a AAA game. Coordinates asset assignments and schedules with outsourcing partners, oversees materials and production pipelines, tracks output and bugs, and contributes to custom tools and software development.
Top Skills: 3Ds MaxMarvelous DesignerMayaPbr PipelinePhotoshopSubstance PainterUnreal EngineZbrush
Yesterday
Hybrid
123K-182K Annually
Expert/Leader
123K-182K Annually
Expert/Leader
Gaming • Information Technology • Mobile • Software • Esports
Leads and mentors gameplay animators developing high-end player-character and AI animations. Establishes animation vision, pipelines, workflows, tools, onboarding, Unreal Engine training, and motion-capture planning. Creates hand-key and motion-capture animations, collaborates on production roadmaps and sprint planning, delegates tasks, resolves blockers, supports hiring, and promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration and a positive team culture.
Top Skills: FacefxMotion CaptureUnreal Engine 5
2 Days Ago
Hybrid
110K-162K Annually
Senior level
110K-162K Annually
Senior level
Gaming • Information Technology • Mobile • Software • Esports
Lead product strategy and execution for 2K's central data science platform. Partner with studios and analytics teams to build ML models, feature pipelines, real-time analytics, and self-service tools. Prioritize use cases like retention modeling, personalization, dynamic content, and fraud detection while ensuring MLOps, governance, and production model performance.
Top Skills: DatabricksFeature StoreMlflowMlopsPythonRSagemakerSQLStreaming DataTensorFlow

What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.

Key Facts About San Francisco Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
  • Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
  • Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account