Associate Creative Director, Visualization

Panthalassa • Portland, OR

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology public benefit corporation developing and deploying technologies to harness ocean energy. The Associate Creative Director, Visualization will help communicate the possibilities of the company’s large-scale ocean technology ecosystem by turning early sketches, strategic discussions, engineering concepts, and emerging ideas into accurate, compelling visualizations.

The role combines artistic vision with engineering curiosity. You will lead visualization work from concept through final render, while remaining hands-on with sketching, modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, and animation. You will establish and evolve a distinctive visual language for the company’s technology, and ensure visualizations support the company’s story, brand, film, and website work. You will collaborate with technical teams, direct freelance artists, and help grow an in-house creative team.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Portland, Oregon. Cash compensation is $125,000–$180,000, with company equity and a benefits package.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience as a 3D artist, animator, concept artist, or industrial designer.
• A track record of leading visual direction on complex technical, mechanical, or industrial subject matter.
• Ability to participate in strategic conversations about products and technologies that do not yet exist, ask sharp technical questions, and understand engineering reasoning well enough to visualize it accurately.
• Strong grounding in industrial design, mechanical design, or vehicle design, with mastery of hard-surface modeling.
• Exceptional command of light, value, composition, color, staging, mood, form, and spatial scale.
• Strong sense of motion, animation, and camera.
• Experience mentoring, leading, or reviewing other artists’ work, or clear readiness to grow into that responsibility.
• Excellent communication skills; self-directed, collaborative, and comfortable giving and receiving direct, constructive critique.
• Genuine interest in ocean technology and climate solutions.

Nice To Haves

• Strong drawing and 2D illustration skills.
• Ability to create environmental concept art.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with the CEO, Creative Director, and engineering teams to translate emerging ideas into clear, compelling visuals.
• Develop a distinctive visual language for Panthalassa’s technology and guide its evolution.
• Lead creative direction for visualizations from early concepts and drawings through storyboards and finished deliverables, including renderings, decks, and animations.
• Build and guide the pipeline for concepting, modeling, texturing, lighting, composition, rendering, and animation.
• Stay hands-on by sketching, modeling, and building scenes when needed.
• Direct and review freelance artists’ work.
• Help grow an in-house team of 2D, 3D, and motion designers.
• Ensure visualizations fit the Panthalassa story, move the brand forward, and connect with creative work across film and website.

Benefits

• Equity in the company.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Health insurance, with the company paying 100% of the gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Dental insurance, with the company paying 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Vision insurance, with the company paying 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Disability insurance, with the company paying 100% for a policy providing long-term financial support if the employee becomes disabled.
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including a 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA.
• Relocation assistance to facilitate a move to Portland, if needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed