Lead Character Artist - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.•Irvine, CA

55d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. â Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations - only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people. As Lead Character Artist, you will play a crucial role in the delivery and quality of our character artwork by leading a team of organic and hard-surface artists. You will collaborate closely with the art director, game designers, technical directors and other team members to bring our world to life with compelling and memorable characters. This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.

Requirements

12+ years of experience crafting video game character art.
Proven experience having shipped at least one AAA project as a creative leader.
Management and mentoring experience.
Proven track record of delivering clear and consistent visual feedback that elevates the team's work.
Strong understanding of PBR.
A team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration and partnering with all departments.
The ability to inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.
Self-motivated ability to lead initiatives.
Strong portfolio showcasing proficiency in 3D character artwork.
Proficiency in industry-standard art tools such as ZBrush, Maya, or equivalent software.
Strong understanding of anatomy and mechanical design.
Knowledge of 3D modeling, texturing, and rigging.

Nice To Haves

Passion for games and a deep appreciation for the role of art in interactive storytelling.
Experience working through early development R&D phases of a project is a plus.
Familiarity with AAA game engines.

Responsibilities

Oversee the creation of characters that align with the game's art direction, narrative, and gameplay requirements - from concept to completion.
Work closely with artists and outsource partners to provide clear direction, feedback, and guidance to ensure the quality and consistency of character art throughout development.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including game designers, writers, and animators to ensure that character art effectively supports the overall vision and goals of the project.
Demonstrate a world-class bar for character art through your own practical work and by guiding the work of others throughout development.
Stay up to date with industry trends, techniques, and best practices in character art and contribute to the continuous improvement of art pipelines and workflows.
Give and receive constructive feedback in a collaborative environment and iterate on character designs to achieve the desired visual impact and gameplay functionality.
Communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and external partners to ensure alignment on artistic goals, timelines, and deliverables.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

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