VFX Artist - RuneScape: Dragonwilds

Location: Cambridge, UK – (This position can accommodate flexible working options. However, candidates must be based (or be willing to relocate) within a comfortable commuting distance of our Cambridge office to be able to attend onsite as required)

This role is a Fixed Term Contract anticipated to end mid-late 2027.

The Mid-Level VFX Artist is responsible for creating high-quality real-time visual effects that enhance gameplay, communicate game mechanics, and elevate the overall player experience. Working closely with art, design, animation, and engineering teams, you will design, build, and implement effects that are visually compelling, performant, and stylistically aligned with the project’s direction. This role balances creative artistry with technical problem-solving, contributing directly to the visual identity and moment-to-moment feel of the game.

What you’ll be doing:

• Create fantasy style visual effects including explosions, magic, weather, environment effects, UI effects, and character abilities. 
• Develop and evolve the VFX style so that it fits the world and makes the game as attractive and exciting as possible. Collaborate closely with the wider team to ensure clarity, readability, and gameplay feedback through VFX. 

• Work with the Art Director, TA Lead and VFX team to ensure effects match the style, tone, and technical constraints of the project. 

• Implement real time gameplay and cinematic VFX, with an optimized from the start approach.  

• Collaborate with Animators and Technical Artists to ensure smooth blending between animations, VFX timing, and character actions. 

• Collaborate with Environment Artists to maximize mood, appeal and sense of life and movement in all environments in the game. 

• Work with a high regard to implementation and performance costs and an active approach to profiling.  

• Work within and establish a clean VFX pipeline. Along the way, contributing creative ideas to improve the visual effects pipeline and overall presentation. 

• Troubleshoot and fix issues related to VFX behaviour, rendering, lighting, or integration. 

• Maintain clear documentation of VFX workflows, naming conventions, and implementation guidelines. 

• Provide feedback and occasional mentoring to junior VFX artists.

What we’re looking for:

• 2–4+ years of experience as a VFX Artist in the games industry, in an Unreal-Engine real-time environment. 

• Strong artistic fundamentals: colour theory, motion, timing, composition, shape language, and visual storytelling. 

• Ability to take direction, give constructive feedback, and work independently when needed 

• Experience creating shaders and materials for VFX 

• Experience implementing VFX using blueprints 

• A curated reel showcasing: 

• Gameplay effects (e.g., combat, abilities, impacts). 

• Environmental or atmospheric effects (fog, rain, fire, smoke, leaves, dust). 

• Use of shaders / materials created for VFX. 

• Examples of in-engine implementation. 

• Breakdown notes explaining your role, tools used, and any procedural workflows. 

What we offer:

When you join Jagex you can look forward to a generous Perks & Benefits package including:

Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.
Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling.
Life Insurance.
Discretionary annual performance bonus.
Enhanced family leave policies from day 1.
Flexible working hours.
25 days annual leave + Bank holidays & the option to buy/sell holidays + so much more!

About Jagex

We are Jagex: The RuneScape Company- home to one of gaming’s most enduring success stories. We create deep, community-powered games with worlds that evolve, inspire, and endure. Our flagship MMORPG franchise, RuneScape has welcomed over 300 million player accounts, inspiring generations of players across PC and mobile for 25 years.

As we begin our 26th year, we are accelerating our strategy to expand RuneScape into a broader ecosystem of forever games and connected experiences, grounded in a renewed commitment to integrity and fair play. This includes the reduction of monetisation mechanics, as well as the launch of RuneScape: DragonWilds into Steam Early Access in 2025 representing a major step in building a multi-genre future for the RuneScape universe. We remain focused on building enduring worlds, empowering player-led innovation, and laying the foundations for the boldest era in RuneScape’s history. For more information, visit www.jagex.com.

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, We are  home to passionate creators, storytellers, engineers, and even a few dreamers, all united by a single mission- to shape the future of online worlds and empower players to make them their own. We’re looking for people to join us who share our ambitions & values - We foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating experiences which inspire our communities. Our values guide everything we do: We Embrace Fellowship by collaborating and sharing openly. We Hone our Craft by always learning and improving; We Honour our Vows by being honest and transparent; We are our Customers’ Heroes by striving to understand our team & player needs, and We Seize The Day by making the most of every opportunity.

Join us. The next era of RuneScape - and the next chapter of Jagex: The RuneScape Company - starts now.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and we recruit, develop, and promote based on merit and ability.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know when you’re invited to interview.