Principal Environment Artist

Certain Affinity, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Certain Affinity, Inc. is seeking a Principal Environment Artist to lead a team of environment artists in creating highly detailed game environments and world assets.

You will set the visual bar, collaborate with design teams, and refine pipelines to improve both aesthetics and performance. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in game environments, 5+ years in leadership roles, and a track record shipping AAA titles.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in game industry focusing on modeling and texturing environments.
• 5+ years in expert content creation or leadership roles.
• Experience shipping at least one AAA title in last 3 years.
• Experience establishing and driving new workflows for content creation.
• Ability to lead multiple teams or serve as SME in environment art.
• Strong understanding of environmental art, composition and critique.

Responsibilities

• Set the visual bar for immersive worlds, within performance guidelines.
• Research and document new tools, pipelines, and techniques for the team.
• Define robust content benchmarks and communicate intent to developers.
• Mentor junior environment artists and collaborate with leadership.
• Represent Environment Art to external partners when needed.
• Collaborate with project leadership to roadmap Environment Art needs.

Skills

Environment art

Leadership

Team collaboration

Art direction

Performance optimization

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

ZBrush

Unreal Engine 5

Substance Designer

Job description

Would you like to work on some of the greatest franchises in gaming history? What about working on our original IP? Certain Affinity is a game developer in Texas, based out of Austin, and we have a growing presence in Toronto, Canada. Our culture reflects the values and the vibrant nature of the cities we call home. This includes a commitment to evolution, diversity, excellence, and work-life balance. We are also excited to be the recipient of the Canadian Studio of the Year award. We're best known for co-developing numerous AAA FPS games, though now we are creating compelling new games of our own. We're always on the lookout for amazing talent to join our team.

As a Principal Environment Artist at Certain Affinity, you’ll work with a small team of environment artists, creating highly detailed game environments and world assets. You’ll have opportunities to set the quality bar for our internal team by creating and visually perfecting an environment as well as working closely with the design teams to enhance the gameplay experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working with the Art Director to set the standard for a visually consistent and highly immersive world that runs within performance guidelines.
• Proactively seek out new software, pipelines, and techniques to evolve the team’s creation pipeline and demonstrate that research with the team through written, verbal, and recorded documentation.
• Sets the visual bar for projects and communicates the intent to others on the projects in every stage of development.
• Defines robust kit-pieces that enhance the environment while supporting gameplay needs.
• Create and define content benchmarks that can be distributed to both internal and external developers when needed.
• Participate in art reviews and have the ability to critique big picture elements as well as individual assets in gate reviews.
• Work with Project leadership teams to understand the Environment Art needs on the project and assist production in creating roadmaps for the project.
• Can be asked to represent the Environment Art team to external business partners
• Mentor more junior environment artists, as well as those in other areas of art content

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• 10+ years' experience in game industry, specifically modeling and texturing environments
• 5+ years experience in an expert content creation or leadership role
• Experience with several projects from concept and preproduction phase through shipping.
• Experience establishing and driving new workflows for content creation
• Either experience leading multiple teams or have provided “Subject Matter” Expertise in multiple areas of environment art creation.
• Understanding of visual art with a focus on environments, composition, critique.

• Shipped 1+ at least one AAA title in last 3 years

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Exceptional core art skills such as general composition, color theory, architectural fundamentals and natural/outdoor principles that will set the standard for a believable world.
• Solid understanding of what makes a game level fun and engaging
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills between art, design, and tech.
• Ability to work within an art style and effectively communicate to the rest of the team
• Expert level knowledge of MAX, Maya, or other 3D software package
• Proficient with Z-Brush or other high resolution sculpting tools
• Experience using Unreal 5
• Solid grasp of performance requirements and constraints of current generation console and PC hardware
• Understanding of the construction and application of PBR materials and material software such as Substance Designer
• Excellent understanding of art pipelines and workflow
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize within time constraints and manage multiple efforts.
• Can initiate visual direction without specific concept or design
• Portfolio should reflect experience defining a variety of content including modular sets, organics, vistas, props, materials, lighting, and landscapes.

Salary Range: 140K-190K CAD

Certain Affinity is authorized to do business in many, but not all, US states and Canadian provinces. If you are not located in or able to work from a state where Certain Affinity is registered, you will not be eligible for employment at this time. Please speak with your recruiter to learn more about where we are registered.

Certain Affinity or its partners or affiliates run background checks on candidates or employees with the written authorization from the candidates or employees. These may be done for the purposes of offering employment or determining eligibility to work on a specific project. Multiple searches may be required.