Freelance Houdini Artist (Prefracture and Simulation Support)

N-iX Game & VR Studio is a team of 100+ professionals, delivering top-quality games, game assets, and VR solutions to various game and media enterprises and startups. Among our clients are Paradox Interactive, Wargaming.NET, Tempo Storm, and other established game businesses and VR startups. We aim for AAA quality of work and offer competitive benefits to our employees.Responsibilities:Prepare high-quality prefracture setups for props of various sizes and materials according to given references and requirementsEnsure the prepared assets meet project style and technical specificationsTest and validate the destruction and physics behavior of fractured assets in the in-house game engineOptimize simulations and geometry to meet performance and memory constraintsCollaborate closely with 3D artists and technical teams to maintain a consistent and efficient production pipelineSubmit finalized assets to the client repository via Perforce, ensuring proper naming conventions and version controlWork with the team lead to plan and prioritize tasks in alignment with project goalsRequired Skills:Strong practical knowledge of Houdini (fracturing, rigid body dynamics, constraints, procedural workflows)Understanding of material behavior and how different materials (wood, metal, stone, glass, etc.) react to impactExperience preparing game-ready destruction setupsAbility to test and debug assets within a game engine environment (preferably custom or proprietary)Good understanding of optimization principles for real-time applications Basic knowledge of 3D modeling tools (3ds Max, Maya, or Blender) for asset adjustment or preparationFamiliarity with version control systems, ideally PerforceStrong attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skillsAbility to work collaboratively in a cross-functional teamUnderstanding of the game production pipelineAs a plus:Experience with Python or VEX scripting for tool creation and automation in HoudiniFamiliarity with Unity, Unreal Engine 5, or other real-time enginesExperience with Substance Painter, Designer, or Photoshop for texture adjustmentKnowledge of vertex painting, mask workflows, or procedural material blendingAbility to communicate effectively in EnglishPassion for games and interactive experiencesWe offer*:Flexible working format - remote, office-based or flexibleA competitive salary and good compensation packagePersonalized career growthProfessional development tools (mentorship program, tech talks and trainings, centers of excellence, and more)Active tech communities with regular knowledge sharingEducation reimbursementMemorable anniversary presentsCorporate events and team buildingsOther location-specific benefitsnot applicable for freelancers