Art Director – Hard Surface

ROCKFISH Games GmbH; Hamburg; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ROCKFISH Games GmbH is seeking an experienced Art Director – Hard Surface to shape the spaceships, vehicles, and structures of our next EVERSPACE title. You will translate creative and gameplay requirements into a clear visual language, work with concept and 3D artists, and steer direction while balancing quality and production scope.

You’ll contribute hands‑on when needed, guide teams, review artwork, and collaborate with Creative Direction, Game Design, Level Design, and Production.

Qualifications

• Extensive sci‑fi and hard‑surface design experience.
• Strong concept art skills and a solid understanding of 3D asset production.
• Experience in game development and familiarity with modern game art pipelines.
• A strong eye for shape language, composition, functionality, and visual consistency.
• Ability to communicate a clear visual direction while giving experienced artists room to do their best work.
• Pragmatic decision‑making and a solid understanding of production constraints.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the visual direction for spaceships, vehicles, and structures.
• Create and develop concepts, style guides, and visual standards.
• Guide and support concept and 3D artists from initial exploration through final in‑game assets.
• Review artwork and provide clear, actionable feedback.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Direction, Game Design, Level Design, and Production.
• Help improve art workflows and make informed decisions about quality, scope, and production effort.
• Contribute hands‑on through concepts, sketches, paintovers, and 3D work as needed.

Skills

Sci-fi design

Hard-surface design

Concept art

3D asset production

Game development

Art pipelines

Shape language

Composition

Visual consistency

Clear visual direction

Production constraints

Communication skills

Collaboration

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Great sci-fi design combines a distinctive visual identity with a sense of purpose. We’re looking for an experienced Art Director – Hard Surface to join ROCKFISH Games and shape the spaceships, vehicles, and structures of our next EVERSPACE title.

In this role, you’ll translate creative and gameplay requirements into a clear and consistent visual language. Working closely with our experienced concept and 3D artists, you’ll establish direction, make decisions, and help the team create outstanding content within the realities of game production.

We’re looking for someone who combines strong design skills with a practical approach to development. You’ll give artists clear guidance and room to contribute their expertise, keep iteration focused, and balance visual quality with scope and production effort. When needed, you’ll also work hands-on through concepts, sketches, paintovers, and 3D work.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the visual direction for spaceships, vehicles, and structures
• Create and develop concepts, style guides, and visual standards
• Guide and support experienced concept and 3D artists from initial exploration through final in-game assets
• Review artwork and provide clear, actionable feedback
• Collaborate closely with Creative Direction, Game Design, Level Design, and Production
• Help improve art workflows and make informed decisions about quality, scope, and production effort
• Contribute hands-on through concepts, sketches, paintovers, and 3D work as needed

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience in sci‑fi and hard‑surface design
• Excellent concept art skills and a strong understanding of 3D asset production
• Experience working in game development and familiarity with modern game art pipelines
• A strong eye for shape language, composition, functionality, and visual consistency
• Ability to communicate a clear visual direction while giving experienced artists room to do their best work
• Pragmatic decision-making and a solid understanding of production constraints
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset

Bonus Skills

• Experience working with Unreal Engine

Preference will go to Germany-based candidates, with secondary preference to those within +1/-1 time zone. The role is partial hybrid, with the expectation the candidate will travel to the Hamburg office monthly.

Start date: immediately