External Development Artist

CD PROJEKT RED•Boston, MA

6h•$65,400 - $99,000•Hybrid

About The Position

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for an experienced External Development Artist to work on Cyberpunk 2, the follow up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next game in the franchise. As a Specialist X-Dev Artist, you will contribute to an immersive player experience of the Cyberpunk universe by acting as a bridge between our internal teams and external partners. In this role, you will be responsible for guiding and reviewing the work of external partners, ensuring the quality and consistency of assets, ranging from simple props, to complex machinery, to the creation of procedural kits that align with the visual standards of our AAA titles. In this position, your artistic eye, technical knowledge and strong communication will be used to collaborate with our internal teams to ensure outsourced assets integrate seamlessly into our game.

Requirements

3+ years of experience as a hard surface artist in the game industry.
Strong portfolio showcasing high-quality hard surface modeling, texturing, and materials.
Strong understanding of modeling techniques, topology optimization, and baking processes for real-time rendering.
Strong understanding of mechanical function and purpose and the ability to create believable assets.
Proficiency with industry standard content creation software, with a strong preference for Blender as the primary DCC (e.g., Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop).
Experience with PBR workflows and game engines like Unreal Engine or proprietary engines.
Good communication and organizational skills.
Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
The ability to learn new tools quickly and effectively.
Team player approach when taking direction to stakeholder feedback.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with or managing outsourced assets is highly preferred.
A passion for science fiction, cyberpunk, or fantasy settings.
A passion for mechanics, weapons, cars, and technology.
Basic skills in rough sketching, drawing, and overpainting.
Understanding of the Unreal Engine.
Knowledge with or understanding of Nanite and Lumen workflows for Unreal Engine 5.

Responsibilities

Provide artistic and technical feedback to external partners on props, materials, and environment assets.
Create clear, detailed asset briefs that guide external partners on scope, quality expectations, technical requirements, and artistic intent.
Review and approve models, textures, and materials to ensure they meet artistic direction, performance budgets, and engine requirements.
Collaborate with internal teams (art direction, design, tech art, and production) to define asset specifications and pipelines.
Create high quality benchmark assets and visual targets that define quality, style, and technical standards for external partners in Unreal Engine.
Identify and resolve asset-related issues quickly and efficiently.
Maintain consistency in visual quality and style across all outsourced assets.

Benefits

Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
Paid leave — 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year
401K with employer matching.
Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) – $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
RED Parents Network — support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.
Flexible working hours.
Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.
Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.