Join the Team.

Senior VFX Art Specialist

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?

The Sphere venue is one-of-a-kind, driven by multiple clusters of 25+ nodes to produce a single frame of seamless imagery on the 16k display that runs at 60FPS.

As a Senior VFX Art Specialist at Sphere Entertainment Company, you will be instrumental in inventing and executing state-of-the-art techniques in computer graphics. You will develop vfx and dynamic systems on unique displays to enable real-time and offline scenarios.

As an ideal candidate you bring a solid artistic foundation in 3D and 2D 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 have the ability to create immersive, exciting work.


What will you do?

  • Brainstorm, R&D, and help implement pipeline workflow.
  • Work closely with the Art Director and others to maintain stunning visual style and quality. 
  • Create photo-real particle systems for game environments and scripted moments. 
  • Work closely with other departments to bring levels and features to life.
  • Design and simulate realistic fire, smoke, explosions, debris, clouds, etc. that meet all technical and aesthetic standards for the project.
  • Promote and enforce structure, such as naming conventions and documentation.
  • 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.
  • Create destructible assets and coinciding particle system.
  • Provide in-depth research, reference material, and develop conceptual ideas.
  • Animate and implement sequences in engine.
  • Ideal candidates have an appetite for creative execution and are forward thinking, technologically inclined and have interest in being a part of an ambitious, innovative project requiring collaboration and teamwork.
  • This role is part of a production artist group exploring and developing a unique language for Sphere, in collaboration with a creative development team.

What do you need to succeed?

  • Highly proficient with the Unreal Engine including Niagara and the material editor.
  • Create concepts and assets from scratch.
  • Passion for fluid dynamics
  • Embergen knowledge a plus
  • Traditional illustration skills in multiple medias, excellent drawing skills, and matte painting experience.
  • Experience with simulation and VFX software like FumeFX, Houdini, Maya, Max, etc.
  • Experience with post process effects and how to create them.
  • Passion for pushing fidelity and refining techniques as technology changes.
  • Excellent texture creation skills
  • Ability to interpret and transform abstract ideas and concepts into compelling work.
  • Ability to perform rigid body and soft body simulations/animations.
  • Aware of memory and technical constraints while working and can balance visual quality with performance.
  • Must be passionate for games.

Special Requirements

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

#LI-Hybrid

 

 

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.