CREATING ORIGINAL VIDEO GAMES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY

Ascendant Studios is looking for a gameplay programmer to help bring our first title to life. This is a full  time, on site position at our office in San Rafael, California. Prior experience with Unreal Engine is a must,  and our ideal applicant will be able to work independently to implement a variety of different gameplay  functions.

Key Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with design and art teams to implement and iterate on new features
• Rapidly prototype new gameplay and systems
• Give, receive, and act on daily constructive feedback with minimal supervision
• Debug and document code
• Accurately access your workload, proactively communicate with the team about potential problems or new developments

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine 4 and the Blueprint system
• BA/BS degree in Computer Science, mathematics, or equivalent field
• 4+ years of experience working with C++
• Solid foundational programming skills (algorithms, data structures, OOP, etc.)
• Ability to work independently, problem solve on the fly, and collaborate efficiently across disciplines in a small, fast moving team

Good to Have

• Familiarity with programming for 1st person shooters and console titles
• At least 3 years game industry experience, including at least one production cycle from start to finish
• Prior work on multiplayer titles
• Adept at working in a fast paced, iterative environment

To Apply
Please email jobs@ascendantstudios.com with your application materials. Please include the job title you’re applying for in the email’s subject line.

Ascendant Studios is looking for an animator to help bring our first title to life. This is a full time, on site  position at our office in San Rafael, California. Our ideal applicant has a solid animation background  paired with strong technical ability and pipeline knowledge. Prior work in games is required, and  experience with Unreal Engine would be a big plus.

Key Responsibilities 

• Animate a variety of character types, creatures, and environmental objects using a blend of keyframe and mo-cap
• Collaborate with programmers and tech artists to implement animations into the Unreal Engine
• Work with the team to establish guidelines and requirements for animation across the game, and to solidify the visual feel of the game
• Give, receive, and make changes to your work based on constructive feedback
• Iterate on animations based on gameplay requirements and artistic direction

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of experience as an animator in the video game industry
• Familiarity with the technical aspects of animation and implementation
• Expert proficiency with Maya
• Solid foundational animation skills, such as timing, weight, and human anatomy
• Ability to work independently, problem solve on the fly, and collaborate efficiently across disciplines in a small, fast moving team

Good to Have 

• Experience working with Unreal Engine, including Aim Offsets, Blend Spaces, Blueprints, State Machines, and Sequencer
• Experience with rigging and rig creation, motion capture recording and processing, or Python/MEL scripting
• Previous experience working on an AAA, 1st person, console title

To Apply
Please email jobs@ascendantstudios.com with your application materials. Please include the job title you’re applying for in the email’s subject line.

Ascendant Studios is looking for a talented and creative environment artist to help bring our first title to life. This is a full time, on site position at our office in San Rafael, California. Prior work on an AAA title, or in the Unreal Engine, is a big plus, and our ideal applicant will be able to work independently alongside design to come up with and execute fantastical level ideas.

Key Responsibilities 

• Create efficient in-game models, UV’s and materials for both organic and inorganic environments, including props, foliage suites, and modular kits
• Prototype and grey block assets and environments, collaborating closely with level designers to uphold gameplay and flow as well as aesthetics
• Work with the Art Director to maintain artistic style and quality in the environments (including asset and material creation, lighting, and level build out)
• Maintain a balance of art quality versus performance in the game engine
• Work with the art director and designers to come up with new level concepts and gather reference
• Give, receive, and make changes to your work based on constructive feedback

Requirements

• 5+ years experience as an Environment Artist or other role responsible for creating game-ready assets in a full-cycle game development studio
• Understanding of modularity and environment systems used in fast, iterative, and efficient production
• Experience in game engine environment setup (lighting, time of day, fog/skyboxes, palette control, and post process effects)
• Understanding of modern materials and shaders and a high level of proficiency with Maya, Zbrush, and Substance Designer/Painter
• Strong traditional art fundamentals, including the function of form and color, proportions, shape, etc.
• Excellent problem solving skills, ability to identify and resolve issues, and understanding of technical dependencies

Good to Have 

• Familiarity with Houdini, World Machine, SpeedTree, or other industry standard software.
• Previous work with Unreal Engine
• Previous experience working on an AAA, 1st person, console title

To Apply
Please email jobs@ascendantstudios.com with your application materials. Please include the job title you’re applying for in the email’s subject line.

Ascendant Studios is looking to hire a flexible, dynamic candidate to be our Office Manager. This is a full time, on site position at our office in San Rafael, California. This role encompasses duties in HR (including payroll and benefits) alongside office management and facilities responsibilities. We’re a small company, and the ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a rapidly evolving environment and isn’t afraid to tackle a variety of different duties.

Responsibilities

• Handle payroll and benefits for a small company
• Maintain and update HR policies
• Work with the team and independently to identify problems and recommend new programs and initiatives to improve life at the company
• Help management to oversee reviews, check-ins, training, and disciplinary actions
• Manage invoices and reimbursements
• Liaison with external vendors for facilities maintenance, supplies and equipment, security, government compliance, etc.
• Assist in planning and executing team events
• Help to make Ascendant Studios a fun, safe, friendly, and inclusive place to work

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, both with the internal team and external partners
• Ability to work effectively and independently in a rapidly evolving environment
• Familiar with the Google suite of apps
• Polite, personable, reliable, and trustworthy
• Proactive and independent – able to identify possible problems before they occur, anticipate effects and reactions, and work to solve them
• Experience in HR, administration, and payroll preferred
• Must have reliable transportation, as there will be errands to run off-site.

Good to Have 

• Experience in corporate HR, preferably in games or a related industry
• Bachelor’s degree, especially in HR, is a plus
• Proficiency with QuickBooks
• Passion for games and entertainment

To Apply
Please email jobs@ascendantstudios.com with your application materials. Please include the job title you’re applying for in the email’s subject line.