3D Environmental Artist

SAIC•Orlando, FL

About The Position

The 3D Environmental Artist is an entry-to-mid-level technical artist responsible for supporting the development, modification, and maintenance of airport Visual Databases (VDBs). Working under the direction of a senior VDB Developer, this individual creates and refines 3D assets, terrain features, airport infrastructure, environmental elements, and supporting visual content that contribute to realistic, operationally accurate airport environments. This position focuses on implementing the senior VDB Developer's vision by constructing detailed airport environments, creating high-quality 3D assets, and ensuring visual fidelity while meeting real-time simulation performance requirements.

Requirements

Entry-to-mid-level technical artist
Supporting the development, modification, and maintenance of airport Visual Databases (VDBs)
Creating and refining 3D assets, terrain features, airport infrastructure, environmental elements, and supporting visual content
Constructing detailed airport environments
Creating high-quality 3D assets
Ensuring visual fidelity while meeting real-time simulation performance requirements
Modern PBR workflows
Source imagery, engineering drawings, GIS data, and reference photography
Design guidance provided by senior VDB Developers
All designated FAA Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs)
Texture refinement, lighting adjustments, and asset optimization
Environmental effects including day/night operations, seasonal conditions, and weather visualization
Animation of environmental objects and airport assets
Optimize models to maintain required simulation performance
Proper scale, placement, texture mapping, and rendering performance
Correct visual defects identified during QA reviews
Iterative design reviews with senior developers and subject matter experts
Established modeling, naming, and performance standards
Program configuration management system
Version control procedures
Package assets for integration into the Visual Database
Organized project documentation and asset libraries
Senior VDB Developers, Scenario Developers, Systems Engineers, and software developers
Agile sprint planning, backlog refinement, and design reviews
Rapid implementation of airport modifications and visual updates

Responsibilities

Create and modify 3D models for airport terminals, control towers, hangars, buildings, signage, lighting, fencing, vehicles, and surrounding infrastructure.
Produce optimized assets suitable for real-time simulation while maintaining high visual quality.
Create and apply textures, materials, and lighting using modern PBR workflows.
Develop reusable asset libraries for common airport structures and environmental objects.
Assemble airport environments from source imagery, engineering drawings, GIS data, and reference photography.
Place and align airport objects according to the design guidance provided by senior VDB Developers.
Build terrain features, roadways, parking areas, vegetation, and surrounding landmarks.
Implement runway markings, taxiway signage, lighting systems, and airport infrastructure.
Support development of airport environments for all designated FAA Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs).
Improve visual quality through texture refinement, lighting adjustments, and asset optimization.
Support development of environmental effects including day/night operations, seasonal conditions, and weather visualization.
Assist with animation of environmental objects and airport assets where required.
Optimize models to maintain required simulation performance.
Verify models for proper scale, placement, texture mapping, and rendering performance.
Correct visual defects identified during QA reviews.
Participate in iterative design reviews with senior developers and subject matter experts.
Ensure all assets comply with established modeling, naming, and performance standards.
Maintain models, textures, and supporting files within the program configuration management system.
Follow version control procedures for all visual assets.
Package assets for integration into the Visual Database.
Maintain organized project documentation and asset libraries.
Work closely with senior VDB Developers, Scenario Developers, Systems Engineers, and software developers.
Participate in Agile sprint planning, backlog refinement, and design reviews.
Support rapid implementation of airport modifications and visual updates.