2D/UI Artist - Europa Universalis V

Paradox Interactive; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation 25 days

Private health insurance

Wellhub gym access

Private on-site gym

Cobee flexible compensation

Steam access to Paradox catalogue

Team activities

Job summary

Paradox Interactive is seeking a hands-on 2D/UI artist to join our Art team for Europa Universalis V in Sitges, near Barcelona. You will create UI elements, icons, art assets and illustrations, and implement them in the game, bridging UX and 2D art to ensure a consistent, player-friendly experience.

You will work on a steady cadence of updates, collaborating with Content Design, UI and other artists, taking ownership from brief to build, and bringing your ideas to improve clarity and speed in

Qualifications

• Professional experience as a 2D or UI artist, ideally 3+ years in games, with a strong portfolio to show it.
• Great knowledge of digital painting software such as Photoshop.
• Strong 2D art fundamentals: composition, lighting, material expression and colour, with the ability to match an existing style.

Responsibilities

• Create 2D art for Europa Universalis V across the game: illustrations, icons, UI elements and other art assets, and implement them in the game.
• Work with Content Design, UI and the other artists to understand each request and find the right visual solution for the player, without needing it spelled out step by step.
• Take ownership of your work from brief to build: spot problems early, make the call and move on.
• Bring your own ideas and initiatives forward. If you see a way to make the art clearer, the pipeline faster or the game look better, propose it and push it.
• Keep the art consistent in style, readable and accessible, with a meticulous eye for detail and high-quality artwork.
• Follow the established art direction and style guides, and raise it when something is not working.
• Take feedback from the Managing Art Lead and your peers, and give it back.

Skills

UI art

2D art

Photoshop

UX collaboration

English communication

Scripting

Tools

Unity

Wireframing tools

Job description

You will join our Art team on Europa Universalis V as a hands-on 2D/UI artist, creating UI elements, icons, art assets and illustrations, and implementing them in the game. You will be the bridge between UX and the 2D art team, turning wireframes and design intent into UI that looks great, stays consistent in style and is easy for the player to understand.

We ship updates on a regular cadence, so you will work on a steady flow of content rather than one big asset at a time. At our studio everyone is a designer: you will work closely with the Managing Art Lead, Content Design and UI, and you will have a real say in how the game looks and feels.

What You Will Do

• Create 2D art for Europa Universalis V across the game: illustrations, icons, UI elements and other art assets, and implement them in the game.
• Work with Content Design, UI and the other artists to understand each request and find the right visual solution for the player, without needing it spelled out step by step.
• Take ownership of your work from brief to build: spot problems early, make the call and move on.
• Bring your own ideas and initiatives forward. If you see a way to make the art clearer, the pipeline faster or the game look better, propose it and push it.
• Keep the art consistent in style, readable and accessible, with a meticulous eye for detail and high-quality artwork.
• Follow the established art direction and style guides, and raise it when something is not working.
• Take feedback from the Managing Art Lead and your peers, and give it back.

What You Will Need

• Professional experience as a 2D or UI artist, ideally 3+ years in games, with a strong portfolio to show it.
• Great knowledge of digital painting software such as Photoshop.
• Strong 2D art fundamentals: composition, lighting, material expression and colour, with the ability to match an existing style.
• Familiarity with scripting and UI implementation, and a technical problem-solving mindset.
• An understanding of UX principles and the ability to work closely with designers to create the best possible player experience.
• Practical use of AI-assisted tools when scripting, or a genuine appetite to learn them.
• A friendly, helpful and collaborative mindset in a team environment.
• Clear, direct communication in English, written and spoken.

Things to Elevate Your Application

• Paradox grand strategy experience, Europa Universalis especially. Genuine interest in the genre matters more than logged hours.
• Passion for history, historical research and period-accurate art.
• Experience on a live title with a recurring update cadence.

The Studio

Paradox Tinto was founded in 2020 by a small and dedicated team of industry veterans led by Johan Andersson, and building on our experience from Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio, we develop Europa Universalis V, the latest entry in the grand strategy franchise that started it all more than twenty-five years ago.

The Team

At Paradox Tinto we work in a small, gameplay focused team, where everyone is part of crafting the player experience and has input on the design of the game. We believe game development should be fun, and we strive for a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere. Being a small studio built from the ground up, we expect everyone to contribute to the development of the studio and its culture. We are also proud of having accessible, experienced managers who lead you and care about you. Your contributions matter to us, to the whole studio, and to the games we make. You will be close to the final product, our community and our fans. We will encourage you to interact with our players directly through social media, our forum, and via streams. Work/life balance matters to us, so our development plans do not rely on crunch. This does not mean we never work overtime, but overtime is relatively uncommon and not encouraged.

The Location

Our office is 300m from one of the beaches of Sitges, a picturesque Mediterranean coastal city. It is well connected by public transport and within walking distance of restaurants, bars, pharmacies, supermarkets, shops and hotels. Sitges is barely 20 minutes by car or bus from El Prat, Barcelona's international airport. It offers 17 beaches along its own coastline, the Costa del Garraf, and an average of 300 days of sun a year, which is hard to argue with for outdoor sports and weekends. Mountain lovers still have the Pyrenees, only a two hour drive away. The town will also captivate you with its cultural events, Mediterranean food and, of course, excellent Spanish wine.

Some of Our Benefits

• 25 working days of vacation per year (23 per the collective agreement, plus 2 extra)
• Private health insurance
• Wellhub subscription: gym access and digital wellbeing apps
• A private gym at the office, plus optional free yoga and HIIT sessions
• Cobee by Pluxee flexible compensation, letting you allocate part of your gross salary to meals or public transport
• Free access to the full Paradox catalogue on Steam, over 100 games
• Healthy snacks and soft drinks, a private garden, and regular team activities

At Paradox Interactive we celebrate difference and care deeply about diversity and inclusion. We therefore encourage you, no matter who you are, to apply for this job if you think you'd be a great addition to our team.

Practical Information

Scope: Full-time and permanent

Location: Sitges, Barcelona (Spain)

WFH/WFO: 100% onsite

Reports to: Managing Art Lead