Michael A. Figueroa

Phone: 757-639-4111

Email: michaelfigueroa.art@gmail.com

Education: University of Texas at Dallas — Animation and Games B.A.

Software: Houdini, Maya, Substance Painter, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, Niagara, Unity, Photoshop, Git, Visual Studio

Languages: C++, C#, Java, Python

Experience

Oversaw a team of 40 students and alumni in the production of an independent animated short film. Produced in 4 months.

( 10 / 2024 - 05 / 2026 )

Blindshot / Co-Director, Lighting Lead

Utilized Houdini to create a procedural pipe-building tool for use in Unreal development. Built optimized 3D replicas of scientific equipment for a mixed reality environment.

( 02 / 2025 - 05 / 2025 )

VAST Lab / 3D Modelling and Technical Art

( 02 / 2023 - 05 / 2023 )

Taught Unity Engine Fundamentals and collaborated with other students to program two adversarial AI agents within Unity. Using reinforcement learning, the two AI learned how to play tag. Designed the training environment, ran tests, and presented in competition. Won award for most popular project.

Association for Computing Machinery / Researcher