Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Working Life

A 'Tech Artist' is someone who is both a digital artist and a programmer. This is a loosely defined role, and the tasks performed will vary from company to company.

In general, a Tech Artist understands the software used to create digital environments and art, and is able to modify, improve, or write new software to expand what is possible.

For a team making video games, they are often involved with creating materials, shaders, or visual effects (VFX). These digital assets can be quite technical, as they need to adjust to lighting conditions or the player’s graphic settings.

Game artists often find Tech Artists delightful to work with, because they can help resolve issues quickly and allow more time to be spent on creation. In some cases, they may also be able to assist Game Animators in their work.

While every studio is different, in a team with less than 20 people there may not be a Tech Artist. Instead, a game artist with some technical competency could perform parts of this role.

Work tasks...

• Create new materials, shaders, or visual effects (VFX) using a combination of code and industry-standard tools.
• Support game artists with the technical side of their work, by providing one-to-one assistance and writing plugins or scripts which can accelerate and automate tasks.
• Write code to improve the rendering, lighting, or performance of graphics in a game engine.
• Communicate with programmers and artists to mediate between the two teams.
• Fix issues with 2D and 3D game assets, to ensure they work as intended.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
• Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
• Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
• Devise missions, challenges, or pussles to be encountered in game play.
• Guide design discussions between development teams.
• Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
• Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
• Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.
• Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
• Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

The journey to become a Tech Artist might begin by becoming a game artist or a Game Programmer. Over time, working with people across departments could lead to an opportunity in bridging creative and technical teams.

This is a highly skilled role, and each individual will have a different subset of the overall skills of a tech artist. Some might focus more on tools programming, some on asset creation, and some on being an artist while providing some technical support.

Further info...

• IntoGames — Technical Artist
• IntoGames — Technical Animator

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €66k

Salries vary based on employer, location, role, duties, and experience. Salary can be sessional based on project work.

Data Source(s):
Blake & Filip/ Indeed/ Payscale/ Prosperity.ie

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Programmers and software development professionals.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

Although employment growth was above average for this occupation, employment levels declined in 2023, returning to 2021 levels (but remaining far above pre-COVID-19 levels). At 47%, this occupation has the second highest share of non-Irish citizens employed (alongside chefs, with the highest share for butchers). Only one fifth were female and over three quarters were employed in the ICT sector.

Over 1,800 new permits were issued in 2023, a decline of 2,500 on 2022 and accounting for over half of the decline in permits issued for this occupational group. Despite a large fall in the number of online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) compared to the previous year, this occupation still accounted for the fourth largest share in 2023. There was a relatively high volume of difficult-to-fill mentions in the Recruitment Agency Survey (various developer roles) and employer data (Skills for Growth, Spotlight on Skills) highlighted issues sourcing VR developers, junior software developers, computer programmers and those with skills in cyber security, AWS and tech development stack.

There are some signs of a slowdown in demand and hirings in this occupation after the significant expansion in the ICT sector in recent years. However, demand continues, both in the ICT sector and across all sectors in the economy, with shortages likely to persist for the foreseeable future.

• Ardan

  • Cluain Mhuire Wellpark Road, Galway City, Ireland, H91 WP9K
  • 091 770 748
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Imirt Irish Game Makers

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Animation Ireland

  • The Association of Animation Producers in Ireland Ltd, 14 – 16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, D02 YC63
  • Click Here

• Animation Skillnet

  • Animation Skillnet Office Furthr, Suite 34 GEC, Taylor’s Lane Dublin 8
  • 087 2487391
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Screen Ireland

  • Click Here