Character Art Director

Epic Games; Vancouver; On-site; USD 258,000 - 379,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Character Art Director, where your artistic vision will shape the future of character design in an award-winning game. Collaborate with a talented team to innovate and inspire, while leading initiatives that define the art team's direction. This role offers a unique opportunity to mentor artists and create stunning designs that resonate with players. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this innovative firm values your contributions and offers an environment where creativity thrives. Be part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of game development and making a significant impact in the industry.

Benefits

100% Benefits Coverage for Employees and Dependents

Supplemental Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Telemedicine Services

Life and AD&D Insurance

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match

Mental Well-Being Program

Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Experience as an art director with a character design background.
• Strong leadership skills to guide a large team towards a vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a worldwide team of artists, delivering effective feedback.
• Create unique character designs within production schedules.

Skills

Character Design

Art Direction

Game Development Process

Leadership Skills

Collaboration

Understanding of Art Fundamentals

Adaptability to Art Styles

Education

Experience in Game Studio

Technical Background in Art and Game Development

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

What We Do

Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.

What You'll Do

Epic is looking for a Character Art Director to join our growing team on Fortnite. This person will lead and collaborate with multidisciplinary artists to help create and maintain Epic's vision. This person will have a balance of creative thinking and a strong ability to lead a team in developing content for our various projects. By working closely with the Senior Art Director, you will be accountable for identifying and communicating a high-quality visual style, as well as developing a team of artists and coaching them to do the same.

In this role, you will

1. Be highly creative. Imagine and communicate your vision to the team to develop new content that players will love.
2. Lead Art initiatives, working closely with other non-Art Teams including Design, Programming, Product, and Marketing.
3. Strategize with Senior Leadership to help define the Art Team's direction and priorities.
4. Create and iterate unique and stunning character designs within a determined production schedule.
5. Direct and mentor a worldwide team of artists; delivering effective feedback across all art disciplines - modeling, animation, etc.
6. Collaborate with the Product and IP teams on themes and cosmetic sets.
7. Deliver effective feedback across all art disciplines - modeling, animation, etc.

What we're looking for

1. Experience as an art director with a character design background and understanding of the 2D and 3D process in a game studio.
2. A deep understanding of the game development process and art disciplines.
3. Experience with working with Product Management on new initiatives.
4. Solid technical background in art and game development.
5. Practical experience using Unreal.
6. Strong leadership skills in order to lead a large number of people toward a singular vision.
7. Strong collaborative nature to partner with senior art directors and discipline leads.
8. Strong understanding of art fundamentals, multiple art styles, anatomy, appeal, color theory, and how color affects mood & focal points - with a focus on modern fashion-forward aesthetics.
9. Experience designing characters of a wide variety with broad appeal and the ability to adapt to and innovate new styles and techniques.
10. Experience directing and supporting artists across multiple disciplines.

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

We pay 100% for benefits for both employees and dependents and offer coverage for supplemental medical, dental, vision, critical illness, telemedicine, Life and AD&D, long term disability insurance as well as weekly indemnity (short term disability) and a retirement savings plan with a competitive employer match. In addition to the EAP (employee assistance program), we also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents.

Pay Transparency Information

The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren’t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).

British Columbia Base Pay Range $258,230 — $378,737 USD

ABOUT US

Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.