Environment Artist (Senior/Principal)

Bonfire Studios•Irvine, CA

About The Position

What's the one game you couldn't put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we’re chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world. Great games begin with people who dare to dream big. If that sounds exciting, you might be exactly who we’re looking for. Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension. The best way to understand our Art team is in their own words — here’s how they describe their work. Our goal is to immerse players in an extraordinary and haunting realm. From initial concept art to final in-game elements, we are crafting a compelling aesthetic experience that seamlessly blends with and brings to life the game’s narrative, level design, combat and audio. We play the game daily and our deep understanding of it allows us to deliver visuals that put the player experience first, while still pushing artistic boundaries to fully capture the unique tone and unforgettable atmosphere of the Arkheron’s world. We are looking for a Senior/Principal Environment Artist with the technical grit to turn surreal concepts into high-fidelity, AAA landscapes. You aren't just an asset creator here - you are a primary architect. You will elevate the visual language of our first IP, translating our established world into immersive environments where every vista serves the story and every layout is purpose-built for competitive gameplay.

Requirements

Are a strong, self-directed world builder who can take an idea from a rough sketch to a polished, in-game environment.
Have deep experience creating AAA-quality environment art, ideally with at least one shipped AAA title.
Bring a sharp eye for organic forms, architecture, materials, color, composition, and spatial storytelling.
Are proficient with industry-standard tools (Maya or equivalent, ZBrush, Photoshop, Substance, and real-time engines).
Understand the realities of game development pipelines, including optimization, lighting, PBR materials, UVs, and engine constraints.
Think developer- and product-first, caring about how environments affect gameplay, flow, and player experience.
Thrive in highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, and communicate clearly with partners across the studio.
Are comfortable working through ambiguity and taking initiative without waiting for perfect direction.
Value trust, openness, and diverse perspectives.
Have a growth mindset and enjoy learning, experimenting, and refining your craft.
Want to make a meaningful impact in a tight-knit studio where your work visibly shapes the game.

Responsibilities

Building high-quality, in-game environment art that brings the world of Arkheron to life—architecture, materials, props, vistas, and set dressing.
Owning environment assets end-to-end, from concept or blockout through final in-engine implementation.
Creating fully realized architectural kits, ensuring they are visually cohesive, performant, and flexible for level design.
Partnering closely with design, lighting, engineering, and other art disciplines to ensure environments support gameplay, readability, and visual storytelling.
Balancing artistic fidelity with gameplay and technical needs, making smart tradeoffs that serve player experience.
Conducting research and gathering reference to push quality, authenticity, and cohesion across the world.
Contributing ideas early and often, helping shape the visual language and identity of a new IP.
Operating with a high degree of autonomy, pushing work forward in a small, evolving team without needing rigid structure.
Wearing multiple hats, using your experience to contribute beyond pure asset creation when it benefits the game.
Collaborate with downstream departments to proactively follow your environmental work through production and into final implementation.
Helping shape the game and studio culture, bringing thoughtfulness, curiosity, and craftsmanship to how we build together.