Look Development Artist

As a Look Development Artist at Knack Studios, you will play a crucial role in developing photorealistic assets, materials, and shaders for various projects. Utilizing your expertise in Maya and Arnold, you will collaborate with different teams to create high-quality lookdev pipelines and asset libraries. Your responsibilities will include: - Developing photorealistic materials, shaders, and textures for assets, characters, and environments. - Creating physically accurate shaders and lighting setups in Maya using Arnold Renderer. - Collaborating with the Asset and FX teams to ensure seamless integration of lookdev assets. - Testing and validating assets under different lighting conditions to maintain consistency and realism. - Contributing to the development of standardized lookdev workflows, templates, and material libraries. - Assisting in shader R&D, including testing AI-driven material generation and automated texture workflows. - Optimizing lookdev processes in collaboration with Pipeline TDs and Python Developers. - Developing and maintaining USD-ready assets and supporting USD pipeline integration. - Collaborating on render optimization strategies to balance quality with performance. - Providing feedback on new in-house tools and industry-standard practices. To qualify for this role, you should have: - 4+ years of experience as a Look Development Artist in VFX, Animation, or Gaming. - Expert-level proficiency in Maya with Arnold Renderer. - Strong knowledge of PBR principles, lighting theory, and render optimization. - Proficiency in texture painting and material authoring tools such as Substance Painter/Designer, Mari, or Photoshop. - Understanding of UV layout, baking workflows, and procedural material generation. - Familiarity with color management workflows (ACES/OCIO). - Experience in USD workflows and asset development is a plus. - Comfort working with Python Developers and Pipeline TDs. - Excellent eye for detail, realism, and visual consistency. - Strong communication and teamwork skills. In addition, it would be nice to have experience with Blender and Cycles, familiarity with Unreal Engine materials, basic Python scripting knowledge, and experience with Houdini lookdev processes. By joining Knack Studios, you will have the opportunity to work in an R&D-driven environment, collaborate with various teams, influence the development of lookdev tools, and engage in innovative projects to enhance your skills and knowledge in the field.,