Character Artist

IronSpark • Birmingham, AL

21h • Onsite

About The Position

IronSpark is seeking a Character Artist for an in-person contract role at its Birmingham, Alabama studio. The artist will create expressive, high-impact 3D characters, creatures, weapons, and props for story-driven projects, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams and using modeling, sculpting, and texturing workflows to bring concepts to life in real time. The work spans early blockouts through final engine integration, helping ensure strong visual storytelling and asset fidelity.

The role is offered in 3-, 6-, or 12-month contract options, with up to 40 hours per week and a flexible daily work environment. Compensation is hourly and proportionate to experience.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional game development or animation experience specializing in character modeling and asset creation.
• Deep proficiency in Maya, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Substance Painter.
• Strong understanding of asset creation pipelines, real-time optimization, and real-time engine integration.
• Mastery of human and creature anatomy, form, silhouette, structure, dynamic posing, and hard-surface modeling techniques.
• A strong eye for lighting, color, surface detail, and PBR texturing to create compelling shaders and maps.
• Ability to work independently, manage project priorities, and solve technical and artistic pipeline challenges.
• Excellent communication skills, a team-first attitude, and comfort receiving creative direction and critique.
• Professionalism, discretion, and strict confidentiality regarding unreleased client and internal projects.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed 3D models, including stylized humans, creatures, vehicles, weapons, and props.
• Collaborate with the art director, lead artists, and design teams to maintain artistic consistency and align assets with project narrative goals.
• Work with animation and technical teams to optimize character models, UVs, and topology for in-engine performance.
• Research tools and refine techniques in modern character pipelines to improve studio workflows and visual quality.
• Manage asset pipelines independently, estimate task timelines accurately, and meet production milestones.
• Participate in creative reviews, incorporate feedback, and refine assets to match project direction.
• Share technical and artistic knowledge with team members and support regional talent.

Benefits

• Opportunity to build processes, tools, and culture from the ground floor.
• Direct access to founders and subject matter experts.
• Input into the product, processes, and company decisions.
• Exposure to work across functions.
• Opportunity to learn through solving new problems without an established playbook.
• Low-bureaucracy environment with fast decision-making.
• Room to experiment and learn through an iterative approach.
• Flexible hours or schedule.
• Remote or hybrid options.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed