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Lead VFX Artist (f/m/x)

Role overview

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of professional VFX experience in games
  • 2+ years leading or mentoring a team in a Senior/Principal or Lead role
  • Mastery of Unreal Engine 5, including Niagara
  • Strong grounding in CG technical pipelines, color theory, composition, and animation principles

Responsibilities

  • Lead the VFX team to realize high-quality visuals across characters, combat, and environments in Unreal Engine
  • Contribute hands-on to set VFX quality targets
  • Establish VFX pipelines, processes, and high-level planning in collaboration with Tech, Art, and Design leadership
  • Drive cross-departmental alignment with Art, Animation, Design, and Tech to solve complex visual and technical blockers

Key facts

Hard skills

Other skills

  • Mentorship
  • Team Leadership
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving

About the company

DECK13 Interactive GmbH logo

DECK13 Interactive GmbH

  • SME
  • 51–200
Deck13 Interactive GmbH, founded in 2001, is one of the leading game video developers in Germany in the heart of Frankfurt. In 2020 Deck13 was acquired by Focus Entertainment, one of Europe’s leading video game publishers. Deck13 is a leading PC and console video game development studio renowned for its high-quality, immersive gaming experiences. With a dedicated team of around 100 talented professionals, we strive to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the gaming industry. We are committed to delivering unforgettable gaming experiences such as “Lords of the Fallen” (2014), “The Surge”, “The Surge 2” and “Atlas Fallen” that captivate players around the world. Under the “Deck13 Spotlight” label the team established a publishing service to help independent developers bring their projects to wider audiences. Deck13 Spotlight is a growing division with an experienced team and access to major console markets. For more than 10 published games such as CrossCode, Wartile and Resolutiion, Deck13 managed Producing, Localization, QA, Marketing, PR & Distribution.

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Job description

Your Quest:

  • Lead the VFX team to realize high-quality visuals across characters, combat, and environments in Unreal Engine
  • Contribute hands-on to set VFX quality targets
  • Establish VFX pipelines, processes, and high-level planning in close collaboration with the Tech, Art, and Design leadership
  • Partner with Production to scope features, break down tasks, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality effects
  • Drive cross-departmental alignment with Art, Animation, Design, and Tech to solve complex visual and technical blockers

Your Toolkit:

  • 8+ years of professional VFX experience in games, including 2+ years leading or mentoring a team in a Senior/Principal or Lead role
  • Mastery of Unreal Engine 5, including Niagara, and industry-standard VFX tools, with a proven track record shipping multiple AA/AAA titles through full production cycles
  • An impressive portfolio/showreel demonstrating top-tier real-time VFX execution, technical innovation, and versatility across realistic and stylized art styles
  • Strong grounding in CG technical pipelines, color theory, composition, and animation principles and the ability to translate that into clear, actionable feedback for your team
  • A track record of mentoring artists, setting technical direction, and balancing hands-on craft with team leadership
  • Active drive to bring cutting-edge VFX trends and real-time technologies into the pipeline
  • This position is available for candidates based in time zones within +/- 2 hours of Germany (CET/CEST). We are also open to applicants located anywhere who are willing and able to relocate to Germany

You Get Extra XP for:

  • Having a secondary specialization in Tech Art or Lighting Art that lets you bridge VFX with rendering and performance

Power-Ups You Receive:

At DECK 13 Interactive, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an environment where you feel valued, supported, and empowered to do your best work. Here’s what we offer to make that happen:

  • A modern, centrally located office in Frankfurt, Germany (near Messe)
  • Free language courses to help you expand your skills
  • Monthly allowances for remote working and gym memberships
  • A monthly allowance for the Deutschlandticket to ease your commute
  • Tax-free Probonio vouchers available every month
  • Free access to an online mental health platform (Bloom) to support your well-being
  • Opportunities for career growth with a yearly learning & development budget
  • 28 days of paid vacation, plus the 24th and 31st of December off

Our Commitment to Inclusivity:

DECK 13 Interactive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other characteristic that makes you unique.
We believe that diverse teams create the best games, and we’re dedicated to building a workplace where everyone can thrive.

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