Unreal 5 Technical Artist - Black Ember Games

About You
We are looking for a skilled and collaborative Technical Artist to join Black Ember Games in Berlin. This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in our Berlin office.

You are someone who sees the seams between art and engineering not as friction, but as opportunity. You think visually and reason technically, and you find genuine satisfaction in building the systems, tools, and pipelines that let a creative team do their best work without fighting the engine to do it.

You've shipped real games. You know what a well-built asset pipeline feels like versus a chaotic one, and you have the scars to prove the difference matters. You're equally at home writing a Python tool to automate a tedious workflow, debugging a shader that's tanking performance, or sitting with an artist to help them understand why their mesh is blowing the draw call budget.

We're a small team with big ambitions and an indie mindset. That means we move fast, share ownership broadly, and genuinely want to hear your ideas — not just execute a task list. If you're energized by that kind of environment and want to help build something from the ground up, we'd love to hear from you.

This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 3 days per week in our Berlin office
. As a Technical Artist, you will act as the bridge between art and engineering — translating visual intentions into optimized systems, scalable pipelines, and tools that empower the whole team to create. As a team with an indie mindset, we are not adherent to a stringent hierarchy and set of processes… if you know a better way to do something, bring that to the table, discuss, and set a new direction with art leadership.

About Us
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.

For more information, visit xsolla.com .

About Black Ember Games
Black Ember Games, an all-new development team within Xsolla, is looking for a Senior Producer to join our team building an asymmetrical multiplayer FPS using Unreal Engine 5.

Our small internal team operates with an indie mindset, fueled by our passion for games. We're a diverse, lively group dedicated to exploring new ideas within genres we love to play. We enjoy a hybrid work model, collaborating in our central Berlin and Novi Sad offices.

Responsibilities
Pipeline & Workflow

• Design, build, and maintain efficient art pipelines and asset workflows that support artists across all disciplines — from concept through final integration
• Develop and maintain tools, scripts, and automation solutions (Python, MEL, Blueprint, or similar) to reduce friction and improve team efficiency
• Define, document, and enforce art standards and best practices across the project

Engine & Technical Implementation

• Own the technical implementation and optimization of materials, shaders, and visual effects within Unreal Engine 5, ensuring they meet both aesthetic and performance targets
• Manage and optimize asset integration across characters, environments, VFX, and UI, including polygon budgets, texture resolution, LODs, and draw call management
• Profile and debug performance issues using Unreal Insights and other profiling tools, partnering with engineers to implement solutions
• Implement and maintain material libraries, shader networks, and PBR workflows, ensuring consistency and reusability across the project
• Support procedural content workflows using tools such as PCG, Houdini, or equivalent systems

Cross-Discipline Collaboration

• Act as the primary technical resource for the art team, providing guidance, training, and hands-on support across character, environment, VFX, and lighting pipelines
• Partner closely with engineers to validate asset creation practices, monitor performance metrics, and ensure art and tech requirements are aligned
• Review and validate outsourced and third-party assets for technical compliance before integration
• Contribute to technical documentation and help build a culture of shared knowledge across the team

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Technical & Professional Skills

• Minimum 3 years of experience in game development, with a focus on technical art
• Demonstrated experience with performance profiling and optimization, including the use of Unreal Insights, GPU Visualizer, and similar tools to identify and resolve CPU/GPU bottlenecks
• Strong understanding of physically-based rendering (PBR), real-time rendering limitations, and cross-platform optimization
• Shipped at least 1 Unreal Engine game as a Technical Artist
• Strong proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, including the Material Editor, Blueprint scripting, asset pipelines, and performance optimization tools
• Familiarity with procedural tools such as Houdini or PCG (Unreal's Procedural Content Generation framework)
• Demonstrated experience with scripting or tool development in Python, MEL, or a comparable language
• Experience with version control systems (Perforce, Git, or SVN)
• A portfolio or demo reel demonstrating shipped work, with clear breakdowns of your technical contributions

Soft Skills

• Strong communicator across both technical and non-technical disciplines
• Self-directed and proactive — able to identify problems and drive solutions without waiting to be asked
• Collaborative and generous with knowledge; committed to raising the level of the whole team

Communication and Location

• High level of professional English proficiency (written and verbal) is required
• Located in or near Berlin, Germany

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding the approaches to working with, and the limitations of Nanite Meshes and the Lumen Lighting System.
• Proficiency with UE5 World Partition and large world workflows, including data layers, level streaming strategies, and HLOD management
• Proficiency in Substance Painter and/or Substance Designer
• Solid experience with industry-standard DCC tools such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, including rigging, skinning, and scripting
• Experience with Niagara VFX system within Unreal Engine
• Knowledge of HLSL/GLSL shader programming
• Experience working with outsourced or distributed international art teams
• Experience on live service titles or post-launch content pipelines
• Fluency in German (English fluency required)

Benefits
We are passionate about fostering a supportive environment for our team, so we prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our employees through a comprehensive Benefits Program. This includes unlimited Flexible Time Off, Gym membership, monthly train ticket and a personalized career roadmap for each employee. By investing in professional development through training and educational opportunities, we ensure that our team thrives both personally and professionally. Together, we’re not just building a business; we’re cultivating a community that values creativity, collaboration, and the transformative power of play.

The duties and responsibilities of this position may evolve over time to support the organization’s goals and individual growth. This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work being performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required.

By submitting your application, you consent to Xsolla conducting background checks, where permitted by law, after the final interview stage. All checks will comply with local regulations, and your information will be handled confidentially.

Xsolla takes your privacy seriously and will not sell or externally distribute any personal data received during the hiring process. In accordance with applicable data protection laws, Xsolla is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy.

For any inquiries related to data privacy, please contact: [email protected]

Explore more opportunities at: https://xsolla.com/careers

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.