Principal, Technical Art Direction

About the role

Aechelon Technology, a Shield AI company, is a leading producer of 3D simulator content, including Geospecific visual/sensor databases and realistic 3D models. We seek people who share our passion for real-time computer graphics and commitment to our mission of helping make our Nation's pilots safer. We will give you a chance to work with some of the most talented people in the graphics industry.

The Principal, Technical Art Direction owns runtime art direction for our simulation products for humans and machines, reporting to the VP of Product. Acting as a product manager for visual quality, they define targets and acceptance criteria, guide engineering iteration, and partner with the Database team's Art Director, to achieve photorealistic results.

Their mission is to achieve the highest possible fidelity to real-world appearance and physical behavior within defined real-time performance constraints. Success means faithfully reproducing reality-including its imperfections, ambiguity, and reduced visibility-not beautifying scenes or introducing cinematic effects.

The ideal candidate combines a killer eye for realism with strong real-time graphics knowledge, working independently and leading through influence to translate artistic intent into actionable guidance for engineers and artists.

Key Responsibilities

• Tune existing runtime features to improve visual quality.
• Stay current with current graphics techniques and industry practice. and work with engineers to evaluate their potential visual benefit and practical limitations.
• Guide graphics engineers through visual reviews of prototypes and implemented features. Evaluate rendered scenes, identify what looks wrong and why, and communicate specific improvements through reference imagery, annotated comparisons, and demonstrations using 3D, 2D and engine tools.
• Translate runtime visual goals into clear requirements and acceptance criteria that describe what done looks like.
• Prioritize runtime visual improvements with Product Management and Engineering, weighing their impact on realism against implementation effort and performance constraints.
• Partner with the Database Art Director to review content in the runtime and identify improvements to content quality and authoring practices. Help distinguish content issues from limitations requiring engineering changes.
• Help QA's perceptual image diff comparison pipeline to determine when visual anomalies are intended or not intended.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in art, computer graphics, technical art, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years in game art, art direction, technical art, or related disciplines, including senior responsibility for visual quality on AAA games or comparable real-time products.
• Excellent visual judgment and deep knowledge of 3D art, lighting, materials, surface detail, and the perceptual cues that make rendered environments look realistic.
• Ability to diagnose visual shortcomings, define a clear target using references, and give precise feedback that artists and engineers can act on.
• Ability to lead from the side and drive progress independently through collaboration and influence.
• Experience working directly with graphics engineers on game engine development, with enough rendering knowledge to discuss technical approaches, understand constraints, and make informed visual tradeoffs.
• Proficiency with relevant 3D and 2D tools, such as Maya and Photoshop.

Preferred Qualifications

• Shader authoring, scripting, or programming experience is useful but optional.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits $210,320 - $315,480 per year:

• The above range is specific to CALIFORNIA and may not be applicable to other locations. Final compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
• We offer a very attractive compensation package including competitive base salary, company performance-based profit sharing, 401k, 100% employer paid health benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, std, ltd, and life insurance plans).
• No relocation reimbursement provided.

This position description is not intended to be a complete listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee holding this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may be changed or others may be assigned at any time by the Company with notice to the employee.