Senior Character Artist

Epic Games•Cary, NC

About The Position

Epic Games is seeking experienced Character Artists to work on Fortnite. The role involves creating high-quality characters for gameplay, cinematics, and marketing, including accurate likenesses of celebrities and music icons. Artists create realistic and stylized designs from references or concepts, following direction from the project Art Director, IP partner, and game design team. They collaborate on visual style, help establish Epic’s quality bar, develop distinctive designs within production schedules, and create alternate skins for approved hero characters. The role also partners with Character Design and Modeling teams to ensure concepts fit the project workflow.

Requirements

Experience designing detailed, modern, forward-looking characters.
Versatility across stylized and realistic art, including hard-surface skills.
Ability to balance creative and aesthetic goals with technical function.
Ability to work within gameplay design constraints and translate them into visuals that enhance the experience.
Experience creating mechanical designs.
Ability to prototype in 3D, work directly with 3D artists, and knowledge of 3D software and current technologies.
Strong traditional drawing skills and knowledge of human anatomy.
Strong character design and texturing skills.
Strong understanding of color theory and how color affects mood and focal points.
Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills.
Experience with Unreal Engine and MetaHuman Creator.
User-focused, passionate, solutions-focused, and innovative.

Responsibilities

Create realistic and stylized characters and likenesses from reference materials or concepts, based on direction from the project Art Director, IP partner, and game design team.
Collaborate on visual style with the Art Director and ensure designs meet Epic’s quality bar.
Create visually striking characters that push the visual envelope.
Create and iterate on distinctive designs within production schedules.
Create alternate skin designs for approved hero characters.
Partner with Character Design, Modeling, and other departments to ensure concept designs work within the project workflow.
Design characters that account for gameplay constraints such as environment scale, character abilities, and prototype function.

Benefits

100% of premiums paid for employees and dependents for medical coverage.
Dental coverage.
Vision HRA.
Long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
401(k) with competitive match.
Mental well-being program through Modern Health, with free therapy and coaching for employees and dependents.
Company-wide paid breaks and employee events.
Unlimited PTO and sick time.
Paid sabbatical after seven years of employment.