Lead Technical Artist Jobs
Lead technical artist jobs are open across game development, film and VFX, XR, and interactive media, at every level from senior artist to principal and director, with specializations in pipeline development, shader and rendering systems, and engine tooling. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Overview
The Technical Graphic Artist is responsible for the timely and accurate production of graphic art digital sketches that can be either Presentation Ready (namedrop sketches for client visits, catalog needs, sampled garment/graphic collections, client follow-up and general sketch needs), or Production Ready (files created for domestic and offshore vendors). This position may require work across our family of brands; Retail, Knights Apparel, Champion, GEAR, ComfortWash and Under Armour.
Unrivaled Teamwear is the fast-growing parent company behind Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel. Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, we design, decorate, and deliver team gear — tees, fleece, performance wear, outerwear, headwear, and accessories — for customers ranging from big box retailers, college bookstores, golf courses and resorts, and national retailers.
We've grown quickly over the past year and expect that growth to continue. We are looking for motivated candidates looking to grow their career alongside the business.
Job Responsibilities
- Lends support to Creative Designers in the creation of support material as associated with seasonal lines, ensuring that all graphics are completed according to established policies and procedures and on time. On occasion, heavy modification of concept art may be required.
- Build customized graphic and garment packages as assigned in SKOR system. Read and interpret requests, following directions given and may also have to work independently with no specific direction. Produce custom designs as specified to product/style, decoration process, graphic concept and licensing guidelines.
- Follows brand standards, licensing guidelines, garment specifications, and manufacturing requirements; building a garment decoration that will experience success in the marketplace
- Works directly with merchandising and/or sales reps through SKOR and licensors, to refine and edit art files as needed.
- Balances and prioritizes time and efforts in business size, ROI, season and workflow via SKOR deadline, managers, project coordinators, and peers.
- Problem-solve and produce very quickly in fast paced situations with a high degree of accuracy in a highly demanding environment.
- Assign and map new art codes as needed
- Will learn and understand screen print, embroidery, special process and garment decoration production requirements.
- Possesses market knowledge for collegiate and Pro Sports leagues within the department. Stay current on design styles and trends for various business channels and markets.
- Communicates clearly and partners smoothly with internal and external clients, maintaining policies and procedures relating to overall departmental project flow.
- As time allows: Create graphic packages and other collateral for projects assigned by Sr. Manager.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or equivalent industry related experience
- 2-3 years of experience in graphic arts/graphic design required
- Mastery of Macintosh computer and graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator)
- Understanding of basic graphic art concepts such as composition, color relationships and balance
Overview
The Technical Graphic Artist is responsible for the timely and accurate production of graphic art digital sketches that can be either Presentation Ready (namedrop sketches for client visits, catalog needs, sampled garment/graphic collections, client follow-up and general sketch needs), or Production Ready (files created for domestic and offshore vendors). This position may require work across our family of brands; Retail, Knights Apparel, Champion, GEAR, ComfortWash and Under Armour.
Unrivaled Teamwear is the fast-growing parent company behind Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel. Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, we design, decorate, and deliver team gear — tees, fleece, performance wear, outerwear, headwear, and accessories — for customers ranging from big box retailers, college bookstores, golf courses and resorts, and national retailers.
We've grown quickly over the past year and expect that growth to continue. We are looking for motivated candidates looking to grow their career alongside the business.
Job Responsibilities
- Lends support to Creative Designers in the creation of support material as associated with seasonal lines, ensuring that all graphics are completed according to established policies and procedures and on time. On occasion, heavy modification of concept art may be required.
- Build customized graphic and garment packages as assigned in SKOR system. Read and interpret requests, following directions given and may also have to work independently with no specific direction. Produce custom designs as specified to product/style, decoration process, graphic concept and licensing guidelines.
- Follows brand standards, licensing guidelines, garment specifications, and manufacturing requirements; building a garment decoration that will experience success in the marketplace
- Works directly with merchandising and/or sales reps through SKOR and licensors, to refine and edit art files as needed.
- Balances and prioritizes time and efforts in business size, ROI, season and workflow via SKOR deadline, managers, project coordinators, and peers.
- Problem-solve and produce very quickly in fast paced situations with a high degree of accuracy in a highly demanding environment.
- Assign and map new art codes as needed
- Will learn and understand screen print, embroidery, special process and garment decoration production requirements.
- Possesses market knowledge for collegiate and Pro Sports leagues within the department. Stay current on design styles and trends for various business channels and markets.
- Communicates clearly and partners smoothly with internal and external clients, maintaining policies and procedures relating to overall departmental project flow.
- As time allows: Create graphic packages and other collateral for projects assigned by Sr. Manager.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or equivalent industry related experience
- 2-3 years of experience in graphic arts/graphic design required
- Mastery of Macintosh computer and graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator)
- Understanding of basic graphic art concepts such as composition, color relationships and balance
Lead Technical Artist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Lead Technical Artist JobsLead Technical Artist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Gaming & Esports
- Media & Entertainment
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead technical artist jobs.
- 5 or more years of technical art experience with at least one shipped title
- Deep expertise in Unreal Engine or Unity, including editor scripting and optimization
- Proficiency in Python or C# for tool development and pipeline automation
- Strong knowledge of real-time rendering, shaders, and GPU performance profiling
- Experience with rigging, skinning, and character pipeline development in Maya
- Ability to mentor artists and partner with engineering and art leadership
Tips for Your Lead Technical Artist Job Search
Tailor your resume to pipeline work
Lead technical artist roles weight pipeline ownership and tool development heavily. List specific engines, DCCs, and scripting languages you've built or maintained, and call out whether you owned the system or contributed to it.
Show leadership impact in your portfolio
Studios hiring at the lead level want proof you've unblocked other artists, not just produced your own work. Include documented examples of tools you shipped, workflows you standardized, or artists you trained and the production outcome.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists lead technical artist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Read job descriptions for engine specificity
Many lead technical artist postings list a primary engine and treat others as secondary. If a role lists Unreal but your deep expertise is Unity, flag that honestly in your cover letter rather than burying it, so both sides avoid a mismatch.
Negotiate scope before you negotiate compensation
Lead technical artist offers vary widely based on whether you manage a team, own the tech budget, or report into engineering vs. art. Clarify those boundaries in your final-round conversation before discussing compensation, so your ask reflects the actual role.
Lead Technical Artist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most lead technical artists?
Riot Games, Riot Games, and HII are hiring the most lead technical artists right now, with openings concentrated in California, Illinois, and Nevada, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Studio size and project phase drive hiring volume, so openings shift frequently between AAA publishers, mid-size studios, and VFX houses.
How many lead technical artist jobs are remote?
About 47% of lead technical artist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with pipeline and tools-focused roles more likely to offer remote flexibility than positions tied to on-site mocap, rendering infrastructure, or in-person team leadership. Fully on-site roles are most common at console-focused AAA studios.
How do you become a lead technical artist?
Start by building deep expertise in at least one real-time engine and a scripting language like Python or C#. Ship projects that demonstrate both artistic judgment and technical problem-solving. Move into mentorship opportunities at the senior level, take ownership of a tool or workflow, and document the production impact. Studios promote from within or hire leads with a clear record of cross-discipline collaboration and shipped work.
Can you get hired as a lead technical artist with limited experience?
Getting hired at the lead level without direct leadership experience is difficult, but not impossible if your portfolio shows tool ownership and pipeline contributions rather than just personal art. Targeting smaller studios or indie teams where the lead role is more hands-on and less managerial can lower the barrier. Contributing to open-source game tools or publishing pipeline tutorials also signals the problem-solving mindset studios look for at this level.
What does the lead technical artist interview process look like?
Most studios run a screening call with a recruiter, followed by a technical interview covering engine-specific knowledge, shader debugging, and pipeline architecture decisions. A portfolio review with the art or engineering team comes next, where you'll be asked to walk through a tool or system you built and explain the tradeoffs. Final rounds typically include a conversation with art leadership and sometimes a short take-home technical exercise.
Where can I find and apply to lead technical artist jobs?
You can find and apply to lead technical artist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your engine expertise, specialization, and preferred work arrangement, then apply directly to each listing.
See All 29 Lead Technical Artist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Technical Artist Jobs