Technical Artist

The Company

Classic video games deserve better. At Digital Eclipse, we treat them with the same care and respect given to other artistic mediums. Now a part of the Atari Family of brands, we are proud to be globally recognized as the market-leading game developer focused on the craft and history of classic video games. We have set the gold standard for archival game re-releases and playable documentaries by weaving together video content, playable games, making-of materials, quality-of-life improvements, and new features.

We've released critically acclaimed games like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, worked with Mega Man, Street Fighter, and Disney, and developed successful original IP like #IDARB. And we're just getting started.

The Role

We are seeking a Technical Artist to help bridge the gap between art and engineering across a variety of projects. This role is about problem-solving, experimentation, and ensuring that great art translates seamlessly into great gameplay. You’ll collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to optimize workflows, build visual features, and implement creative solutions that enhance both the look and feel of our games.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with artists and programmers to implement art assets into the game engine, ensuring fidelity to the intended style.
• Develop tools and scripts to improve art production workflows (e.g., asset export/import pipelines, batch processing, or pixel-perfect scaling tools).
• Optimize assets and rendering for performance on target platforms while preserving retro authenticity.
• Create and maintain shaders and materials that support our retro aesthetic (e.g., CRT effects, palette swaps, sprite layering).
• Troubleshoot visual or technical issues in the pipeline and propose solutions.
• Work with the Art Director to maintain consistency in visual style, including resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate.
• Provide technical guidance to artists on best practices for asset creation and implementation.
• Assist in UI integration, sprite animation setup, and particle effects as needed.

Must Haves

• 3+ years experience as a Technical Artist or similar role in game development.
• Familiarity with game engines (Unreal, Unity, or proprietary) and creative software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), Blender, or comparable 2D/3D tools.
• Strong understanding of game art asset workflows (2D and/or low-poly 3D).
• Scripting experience (e.g., C/C++, Python, or similar).
• Knowledge of rendering, optimization, and performance constraints for various video game platforms.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Ability to commute or relocate to the Emeryville, California area (unless remote ok)

Bonus Points

• Passion for retro games and familiarity with the visual constraints of classic hardware (NES, SNES, Genesis, arcade, etc.).
• Experience with pixel art, tilemaps, or sprite animation pipelines.
• Shader programming experience (HLSL, GLSL, Shader Graph).
• Familiarity with Git or other version control systems.

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $100,000/year.  Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Free Video Games: Employees get access to our library of games. Everyone is encouraged to play and enjoy our games on PC or console of their choice (where available).
• Mission-Driven: We’re a team of passionate and creative people, driven by a love for what we do.
• Collaborative Environment: Working at Atari is a collaborative, multiplayer experience on a fun and creative team. 
• Level Up Your Skills: As a growing company, no two days are the same. We give our teams the freedom to experiment, challenge themselves, and grow.
• Paid Time Off: We believe in striking a balance between work and play as a core to creating great work. 
• Holiday Closure: We close for a week around the holidays each year to give the team a rest. 
• Prioritizing Diversity: We want our team to be as diverse as the amazing world of video game and retro fans. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
• Competitive Benefits: 401(k), health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Studio Atmosphere: A friendly office with collaborative and talented colleagues, an arcade, and rooftop deck to enjoy office lunches and BBQs

To Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter and link to your portfolio.