Lead Environment Artist — AAA-Quality Environments (Hybrid)

Velan Studios, Inc.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Flexible time-off

Job summary

Velan Studios in Toronto is seeking an experienced Art Lead to guide environment art across projects. You will set standards, mentor artists, and drive asset creation from concept to optimization, collaborating with designers, engineers, and producers.

You will lead the development of game-ready environments, leveraging Unreal or other AAA engines, with strong emphasis on lighting, composition, and world-building. Hybrid/onsite work with a studio-based team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industry experience as an Environment Artist with 2+ years in a lead role.

Responsibilities

• Create game-ready environment assets using proprietary and commercial workflows.
• Use custom engines to build project-specific workflows with internal teams and external vendors.
• Populate and decorate environments with strong composition and layout understanding.
• Build high-definition, game-ready models, materials, and world geometry.
• Create hard surface models, terrain, and foliage.
• Collaborate with Art Director, Outsource Manager, and Producers to ensure on-time delivery.
• Work with Designers/Engineers to ensure assets are high-quality and optimized across platforms.
• Provide feedback to 3D outsource teams and contribute to production pipeline R&D.
• Function autonomously and stay organized throughout the project lifespan.
• Receive feedback and iterate accordingly.

Skills

Environment artist

Lead experience

Procedural assets

Unreal engine

Maya

Substance designer

Substance painter

Art direction

Communication

Tools

Unreal PCG

Houdini

Blender Geometry Nodes

Job description

Velan Studios in Toronto is seeking an experienced Art Lead to guide environment art across projects. You will set standards, mentor artists, and drive asset creation from concept to optimization, collaborating with designers, engineers, and producers.

You will lead the development of game-ready environments, leveraging Unreal or other AAA engines, with strong emphasis on lighting, composition, and world-building. Hybrid/onsite work with a studio-based team.