Expert Character Artist
About The Position
As an Expert Character Artist, you’ll be a key contributor to the quality and evolution of our project's character art. You’re an exceptional 3D artist and visual problem solver who can translate character concepts and broad creative goals into compelling, production-ready assets. Working closely with the creative team and cross-discipline partners, you’ll take on complex, high-impact assignments and turn ambiguous artistic or technical problems into practical solutions. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy while remaining aligned with the project's art direction and production needs. Through the quality of your craft and collaboration, you’ll raise the bar for character art across the studio.
Requirements
- Typically 8+ years of professional character art experience in games, with experience contributing to multiple shipped titles.
- An exceptional online portfolio (with breakdowns) demonstrating character work that illustrates artistic judgment, technical execution and stylistic range.
- Mastery of anatomy, proportion, costume, color, materials, and design.
- Expert command of real-time character pipelines including; high-resolution sculpting and modeling, game topology, UVs, texturing (realistic and non-photorealistic), PBR and NPR materials, performance optimization, and engine integration.
- Expert proficiency with ZBrush, Maya, Substance 3D Painter, Unreal Engine, Photoshop, and/or equivalent software.
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex visual and technical problems, resolve production tradeoffs, work within an established visual direction, and improve quality while supporting downstream departments.
- Proven ability to work independently, make sound craft decisions, manage complex assignments, collaborate effectively across disciplines, communicate clearly, and mentor other artists.
Responsibilities
- Create benchmark characters, creatures, and weapons from high-resolution sculpts through modeling, topology, UVs, bakes, texture painting, materials, and engine integration.
- Own complex character assignments, translating concepts and briefs into visually compelling, technically sound assets that support gameplay, animation, narrative, and project-wide art direction.
- Help establish and uphold visual and technical standards through benchmark assets, documentation, and practical solutions that improve consistency and production quality.
- Partner with art and cross-discipline teams to resolve challenges and ensure assets deform, perform, and read as intended in game.
- Mentor other artists through thoughtful critique and example-setting while actively identifying opportunities to improve workflows and processes.
- Self-manage assignments and priorities, maintaining alignment with leadership while proactively identifying dependencies and risks.
- Provide craft oversight for external art vendors by clarifying expectations, reviewing deliverables, giving actionable feedback, and ensuring work meets established visual, technical, and production standards.
Benefits
- 401(K) plan
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage
- 14 paid holidays per calendar year
- paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program
- up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
- paid parental and compassionate leave
- wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
- family planning support through Maven
- commuter benefits
- reimbursements for fitness-related expenses
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
