Associate Art Director

Stellar Entertainment; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Holiday Accrual Scheme

International AAA game projects

Access to cutting-edge hardware

Discretionary bonus

Private Healthcare Plan

Pension Plan

Life Assurance

Wellness Support

Regular Team Incentives

Job summary

Stellar Entertainment in Guildford is seeking an Associate Art Director to lead a talented team on a new AAA project. You will shape the artistic vision, collaborate across disciplines, and mentor artists to deliver high-quality results.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in the AAA gaming sector, a strong portfolio, and skills in industry-standard tools. The role offers flexible hybrid working, as well as access to cutting-edge hardware and robust benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a related role on AAA game projects.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing understanding of art fundamentals.
• Strong leadership with a track record of mentoring artists.

Responsibilities

• Help refine the artistic vision alongside the Art Director.
• Collaborate to ensure the art direction complements gameplay.
• Lead and mentor a team of talented artists.

Skills

Artistic fundamentals

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Proficiency in tools

Tools

Photoshop

Maya

Blender

ZBrush

Substance Suite

Unreal Engine

Job description

The Studio

We are a video game development studio with offices in Guildford, UK and Utrecht, Netherlands. Sitting within the heart of thriving communities of game developers and publishers, we focus on quality and excellence, and our partners and players are always at the front of everything we do.

Games are not just about gameplay. We believe in the importance of balancing every single aspect of a game that you, as a player will interact with; what you see, how you play and how it makes you feel.

It couldn't be a more exciting time to join us as we embark on a new unannounced project, pushing the boundaries of all aspects of the game to create a truly AAA experience.

The Role

Our studio is going from strength to strength and we're now looking for an Associate Art Director to join us to continue building upon our high-quality art aspirations but also leading a team of high achieving artists. This role sits on a new, unannounced project – so if you're looking to grow and nurture teams, while shaping the creative vision, this could be the role for you.

You will collaborate with the Art Director and teams across many disciplines including UI, Hard Surface, World, VFX, Animation, Engineering and Production to define and drive the quality in our games.

Alongside leveraging your artistic abilities, you'll also mentor and manage a variety of artists in different disciplines, providing guidance and support to help them reach their full potential. We're passionate about career development, and our Associate Art Director will play a key role in the progression of our teams. You'll be a naturally strong communicator and team leader, who can maintain the balance of artistic creativity and technical constraints to help us deliver visually stunning and immersive game experiences.

As our Associate Art Director, you will:

• Help to refine and sculpt the artistic vision of the game alongside our Art Director and Head of Creative
• Collaborate across teams to ensure the art direction complements gameplay
• Lead and mentor our team of talented artists, giving regular feedback and check-ins on the work produced
• Work to grow the team’s overall capabilities, maintaining and fostering a healthy culture that means everyone is hungry to be class leading across all disciplines.
• Ensure we are delivering quality and consistency regarding the artwork we are creating for our projects
• Communicate and celebrate art progress alongside highlighting risks and concerns looking to optimise the maximum potential of the team

Requirements

What we’re looking to see on your CV:

• Proven experience as an Associate Art Director or Lead Artist on released game projects within the AAA space.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing a strong understanding of artistic fundamentals, including composition, lighting, and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in industry-standard art tools (e.g., Photoshop, Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Suite) and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine).
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills, with a track record of guiding and developing artistic talent.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey artistic vision and provide constructive feedback across multiple disciplines.
• Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities and technical constraints to deliver high-quality results on time.
• Strong understanding of the game development process and the intersection of art and technology in game production.

Bonus Points For

• Experience working on large-scale, open-world, or multiplayer games.
• Knowledge of advanced rendering techniques and tools (e.g., shaders, lighting systems).
• Experience in developing art pipelines and workflows that improve productivity and efficiency.
• Passion for video games and a strong understanding of the latest industry trends in game art and visual styles.

Benefits

What you can expect from us:

• Flexible hybrid working (we work 3 days per week on-site)
• Holiday Accrual Scheme
• International AAA game projects;
• Access to cutting-edge hardware;
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private Healthcare Plan incl. Dental and Eye care
• Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme - Wellness Support
• Regular Team Incentives and Social Events

We’re on an important journey with our teammates, candidates and industry partners to tackle barriers to equality and promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility across the markets we work in. If you need any support during the interview process or any feedback on our processes, please let us know.