Character Artist

Naughty Dog•Santa Monica, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Naughty Dog is seeking a Character Artist to contribute to its games, including the studio’s current project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This is an on-site position in Santa Monica, California. The role focuses on creating detailed, realistic character assets that support the studio’s character-driven storytelling and attention to detail. The position may be eligible for additional compensation, including an annual bonus and other incentive plans.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in any field, or a foreign equivalent degree.
Two years of experience as a character artist or in a related occupation.
Experience working on AAA titles as a character artist.
Knowledge of clothing folds and human anatomy.
Understanding of the game production pipeline.
Ability to create lived-in clothing assets through texturing, including color fades, tears, and grime.
Ability to create natural-looking skin through color variations that show veins, discoloration, and imperfections.
Proficiency with ZBrush, Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.

Responsibilities

Sculpt and model outfits, people, and animals for realistic game environments.
Texture clothing to convey wear, grime, damage, and a sense of each asset’s backstory.
Texture skin using subsurface scattering, color variation, discoloration, and imperfections.
Perform retopology and create efficient UV layouts.
Create hair cards and fur, and set up shaders.
Work with Concept Art, shading, and rigging departments to develop a high-quality production pipeline.