Creature Artist

Cloud Imperium Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cloud Imperium Games in Manchester is seeking a Creature Artist to design, sculpt, and texture highly detailed beings for a sci-fi space sim. You will collaborate with concept artists, animators and tech artists to bring creatures to life, balancing visual quality with real-time performance.

The candidate should have a strong portfolio, be proficient in ZBrush and Maya, and have experience with Substance Painter/Designer and Photoshop. Familiarity with Unreal/Unity is a plus.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showing creature design, anatomy, sculpting and texturing.
• Excellent collaboration and communication across art, animation and tech teams.
• Understanding of anatomy, animal physiology and biomechanics.
• Experience with real-time engines (Unreal, Unity).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Art Directors and Concept Artists to develop creature designs.
• Translate 2D concepts into 3D sculpts and models.
• Create high-resolution digital sculpts with focus on anatomy and surface detail.
• Build production-ready low-poly models for real-time engines.
• Develop textures, shaders and materials for various surfaces.
• Ensure consistency with art direction and integrate assets into the engine.

Skills

Portfolio

Collaboration

Communication

Anatomy knowledge

Tools

ZBrush/Maya

Substance Painter/Designer

Photoshop

Job description

We are a crowdfunded company and have a dedicated and enthusiastic community of backers who are helping us create the “Best Damn Space Sim Ever”. We want to build the best we can deliver and we believe wholeheartedly in the value of exceptional diverse talent.

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA games. CIG prides itself in thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity and developing ground-breaking technology. CIG believes in raising the bar for the gaming industry and the community as a whole.

About the Role:

As we expand our universe, we’re looking for visionary Creature Artists to help develop the extraordinary beings that inhabit it. You will be responsible for designing, sculpting, and texturing highly detailed creatures that push the boundaries of visual storytelling and gameplay design. You will work closely with concept artists, animators, and tech artists to breathe life into high-quality sci-fi creatures.

What does a Creature Artist at CIG do?

• Collaborate with Art Directors and Concept Artists to develop unique creature designs that fit the game’s artistic vision and narrative.
• Translate 2D concepts into 3D sculpts and models while contributing creative input for design improvements.
• Create high-resolution digital sculpts of creatures, focusing on anatomy, form, and surface detail.
• Build production-ready low-poly models optimised for real-time engines.
• Develop textures, shaders, and materials that bring skin, fur, scales, feathers, or other surfaces to life.
• Ensure consistency with the overall look of the project’s art direction.
• Work with Animators and Riggers to ensure models deform correctly and support expressive creature movement.
• Ensure assets are properly integrated into the engine, maintaining performance budgets and visual quality.

What do we expect from our Creature Artists?

• Strong portfolio demonstrating creature design, anatomy knowledge, and sculpting/texturing skills.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D software (Zbrush, Maya, etc).
• Expertise with texturing tools (Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop).
• Understanding of anatomy, animal physiology, and biomechanics.
• Familiarity with real-time engines (Unreal, Unity).
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work across departments.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with grooming and hair/fur systems (XGen, Ornatrix).
• Knowledge of creature rigging and deformation for animation.
• Background in traditional art, life drawing or sculpting.

Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it’s our differences that make it special.