Lead Character Artist

Certain Affinity, Inc.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A game development studio is seeking a Lead Character Artist in Vancouver to oversee the character art team. The role requires extensive experience in game development, including leading teams and collaborating across multiple disciplines. Candidates should have a strong portfolio, proficiency in major 3D software, and excellent communication skills. The studio values a diverse and inclusive environment, making it essential to foster a positive team culture.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in game development, with 3+ in a lead character artist role.
• Experience with multiple shipped AAA titles; leadership in at least one.
• Understanding of how character design impacts animation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the character art team's style and quality.
• Provide feedback and direction to character artists.
• Collaborate with technical teams on asset optimization.

Skills

Game development

Character art leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Art pipelines and workflows

3D software proficiency

Collaboration across disciplines

Traditional arts

Tools

Z-Brush

Autodesk Maya

3ds Max

Algorithmic Substance

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the project Art Director to develop a style and provide consistent quality across all characters, creatures and related models
• Develop, support and challenge the individuals on the character art team to foster growth, satisfaction, and contribution
• Contribute a wide range of skills with the ability to lead by example while helping to grow a team's skills
• Provide clear and consistent feedback, direction and critique to character artists for aesthetic and technical considerations
• Help build and define the process and workflow for character creation
• Collaborate with the technical team to optimize and maintain optimal performance across all art assets
• Build and maintain partner and client relationships, trust and communication
• Work with development leads and directors to develop a strategy which provides strong character art resources to cover the studio's diverse project needs
• Collaborate with art and project leadership to coordinate character art resources, schedules, and priorities across multiple projects
• Carry out key department responsibilities that include interviewing, hiring, and training employees, reviewing work for quality, and appraising performance and resolving issues
• Serve as the external face of Certain Affinity's character art team in professional and recruiting events

Requirements

• 7+ years in game development, 3+ years specifically in a lead character artist role
• Multiple shipped AAA titles, with at least one in a Lead Character Artist role
• Superb communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven history of leading and growing a team of highly skilled artists
• Experience successfully collaborating and problem-solving issues that involve multiple disciplines
• Excellent understanding of art pipelines and workflows and how they connect with multiple disciplines
• Strong foundational knowledge in traditional arts, including, but not limited to, anatomy, figure drawing, and illustration
• Expert-level proficiency with Z-Brush, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, and/or other 3D software packages
• Proficiency with Algorithmic Substance, Quixel Suite, Adobe Photoshop, and/or other material and texture creation tools
• Broad experience working in a wide range of proprietary and third-party 3D game engines (Unreal, Unity, etc.)
• Ability to understand and communicate visual direction through words and images
• Understanding of how character design and construction facilitates and impacts animation
• Portfolio showing off your work
• A desire to work in a diverse and inclusive environment

Extra Credit

• Solid understanding of core principles of motion and how they impact character personality, action, and emotion
• Ability to provide constructive input and feedback in terms of character authorizing