Principal 3D Character Artist

PUBG Madison•Madison, WI

13h•Remote

About The Position

PUBG Madison is developing an exciting new IP that aims to push the shooter genre forward. Our state-of-the art studio and brand-new motion capture studio are in the heart of Madison, WI. PUBG Madison has been named a Top Workplace in 2025 and 2026 for our positive, strong company culture. This role is open to remote work for those located in the United States. This role will work primarily on Pacific Time Zone (PST) business hours and requires regular collaboration with Korean-speaking teams; fluency in both English and Korean is required.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in game development or equivalent relevant experience, with at least 1 shipped game.
Portfolio showcasing photorealistic, high-quality character art presented in-engine.
Professional fluency in English and Korean.
Strong understanding of the full character art pipeline.
Deep understanding of human anatomy, form, proportion, costume, and material representation.
Proficiency in major DCC tools such as Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
Professional experience working in Unreal or Unity game engines.
Experience leading a team or mentoring artists.
Experience communicating clearly and solving problems in a collaborative environment.
Experience owning environment art quality and direction and meeting deliverables on a past project.
Ability to self-manage, prioritize tasks, and deliver under deadlines.
Ability to work during Pacific Time zone business hours (10am-4pm) with regular ability to meet in the evenings for international collaboration.
Ability to travel internationally 1-3 times a year for business purposes.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on games developed across multiple countries.
Experience defining character style or setting art direction.
Experience managing and providing feedback to outsource vendors.
Experience building or improving character pipelines.
Experience with in-engine visual implementation (PBR, shaders, lighting, etc.).
Deep expertise in specific areas such as clothing or hair.
Multi-platform (PC/Console) development experience.
Experience contributing to team building, hiring, and organizational growth

Responsibilities

Define the character art direction for the project and establish and maintain quality standards for the team.
Lead AAA-level character production and oversee the full pipeline from modeling and texturing to in-engine implementation.
Collaborate with Art Directors and other disciplines (Animation, TA, Design, etc.) to deliver results that fit the game experience.
Improve character production pipelines and workflows to build an efficient production environment.
Review work from team members and outsource artists and provide specific feedback.
Manage project schedules, resources, and task priorities to ensure deliverables are completed on time at a high standard.
Implement game-optimized characters with technical constraints in mind.
Define the visual direction and quality bar for all character art across the project, and design the standards and workflows that enable the team to produce consistent results.

Benefits

A highly competitive total compensation package
Comprehensive employer funded healthcare – ensuring you pay nothing out of pocket for in-network medical care
Employer-paid premiums for dental, vision, short & long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D insurance
Generous time off including 20 days of prorated PTO, 12 paid holidays and a studio-wide holiday break annually
Generous annual sick leave days to prioritize your well-being
Annual health & wellness, video game, and continuing education reimbursements
Industry-leading family planning and fertility care benefits, including gender-affirming care, through Carrot Fertility
Enjoy free catered lunches, meal reimbursements, and snacks and beverages for in office staff
Engage in regular team outings and events to foster a positive work culture
401K with a company match for your financial well-being