Lead Environment Concept Artist

Epic Games•Cary, NC

About The Position

Epic Games is searching for an experienced Lead Environment Concept Artist to support and supervise environment concept content created by external partners as part of our collaboration with Disney. Reporting to the project Art Director and working closely with the Outsource Manager and Environment Art Leads, you will help drive the visual quality, consistency, and world-building direction of environment concept art across the project. This role requires a highly skilled environment concept artist with strong leadership instincts, exceptional communication skills, and experience working within AAA game production pipelines. You will collaborate with both internal and external teams to ensure concept work aligns with the project’s artistic vision, gameplay needs, and production requirements while helping establish a clear quality bar for outsourced environment art.

Requirements

Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong environment concept art skills, visual storytelling, composition, color theory, lighting, and world-building
Deep understanding of environmental design principles, including architecture, atmosphere, scale, shape language, and gameplay readability
Experience working as a Senior or Lead Environment Concept Artist on at least one shipped AAA title
Strong ability to communicate visual direction and collaborate effectively with both internal developers and external outsourcing partners
Experience creating production-ready concept packages, including callouts, orthographic designs, paint-overs, and reference sheets
Understanding of downstream game development workflows and how concept art supports environment art, lighting, level design, and VFX production
Excellent organizational, communication, and feedback skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
Proven ability to maintain high artistic standards while balancing production realities and schedules

Nice To Haves

Experience working with stylized and/or highly immersive world-building aesthetics is a strong plus
Fluency in an additional language such as Chinese, Spanish, German, Italian, or Russian

Responsibilities

Partner closely with the Art Director, Environment Art Leads, Outsource Managers, and internal art teams to support external environment concept vendors
Communicate the project’s visual direction and world-building goals to outsource partners while ensuring all submitted work meets Epic and Disney quality standards
Create and oversee high-quality environment concept designs that support the visual identity and storytelling needs of the project
Develop mood boards, paint-overs, visual target references, callouts, and production documentation to guide external teams
Help define environment pipelines, workflows, and quality benchmarks for outsourced concept art production
Review outsource submissions and provide clear, actionable artistic feedback to ensure consistency in style, tone, composition, and functionality
Collaborate closely with environment art, level design, lighting, VFX, and gameplay teams to ensure concepts support downstream production requirements
Identify risks, communication gaps, or quality concerns early and escalate appropriately to leadership when needed
Lead, mentor, and provide artistic direction for a small team of environment concept artists

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision HRA
Long Term Disability
Life Insurance
401k with competitive match
Robust mental well-being program through Modern Health (free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents)
Company events
Company-wide paid breaks
Unlimited PTO
Unlimited sick time
Paid sabbatical for 7 years of employment