Lead Game Artist

Hardlight; Royal Leamington Spa; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development company is seeking a Lead Game Artist for its Sonic Mobile team. The role involves inspiring the art team, overseeing quality in game art production, and collaborating with stakeholders on art implementation. Candidates should have strong 2D and 3D art skills, experience with Unity, and be passionate about gaming, particularly within the Sonic franchise. The position supports hybrid working with opportunities for professional development and an engaging work environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive flexible benefits package

Wellbeing and work-life balance support

Flexible work from home days

Annual performance and profit-related bonus scheme

Free SEGA games on Steam

Discounted gym membership

12 days of training time a year

Qualifications

• Strong skills in 2D and 3D art creation required.
• Experience with Unity or equivalent game engine necessary.
• Proficient in software tools such as Photoshop and Blender.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and motivate the art team to achieve their highest potential.
• Plan and prioritise art production to deliver on the game's roadmap.
• Get hands-on and create high-quality art for the games.

Skills

2D art creation

3D art creation

Communication

Collaboration

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Tools

Unity

3DS Max

Maya

Blender

Photoshop

Painter

Job description

Role Overview - Lead Game Artist - Sonic Mobile

We’re seeking a Lead Game Artist to join our Sonic Mobile team who develop Sonic Forces, Sonic Dash and Sonic Boom – games with over a billion combined downloads so far!

This unique role is perfect for a lead who sees beyond the conventional project lifecycle and understands the art of nurturing a live service game. Someone excited to see how small improvements in the game lead to big wins in player engagement, retention and community feedback.

You care about slick and efficient pipelines, constantly looking for improvements to allow the artists to support the game’s ambitions.

Most of the art updates for the live Sonic games revolve around building fun characters and exciting UI so this role will suit someone who enjoys working across a range of game art.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and motivate the art team to achieve their highest potential, driving artistic quality by example, promoting successful teamwork, and giving feedback and direction where needed.
• Help plan and prioritise art production to efficiently deliver on the game's roadmap milestones while adapting to shifting priorities in a live game environment.
• Get hands-on and create high quality art for the games.
• Maintain visual consistency in the games, while looking for ways to push quality further.
• Troubleshoot and resolve art-related technical challenges in collaboration with engineering teams.
• Work with IP holders to approve official artwork.
• Line manage the art team - perform 1-1's and support their career development.
• Identify and implement pipeline improvements that enhance efficiency and quality.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation for art processes and standards.
• Partner and coordinate with game stake holders to help deliver improvements with an insight of art implementation and resource requirements.
• Be a role model for our values of determination, compassion, and collaboration.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong 2D and 3D art creation skills.
• Experience with Unity or an equivalent game engine, including implementation, asset setup, and optimisation.
• Proficient with industry tools like 3DS Max, Maya or Blender, Photoshop, Painter.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational skills and a real attention to detail.

Desirable Experience

• A good eye for quality graphic design and animation
• Experience of basic video editing (Premiere and After Effects)
• Player focused approach – you know what makes a game fun.
• An interest in Sonic, SEGA, and stylised games and art.

Why work at HARDlight?

• Access to a comprehensive flexible benefits package that includes ULEV car salary sacrifice, life assurance, income protection, private healthcare & dental insurance schemes, and an enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Wellbeing and work life balance support that includes duvet day, volunteer day, free health check and annual flu jab
• 20 flexible work from home days, that increase to 26 with long service
• Annual personal performance and studio profit related bonus scheme
• Free SEGA games on Steam and home technology discounts
• Discounted gym membership and ride-to-work scheme
• Set of core hours with flexible start and end times
• 12 days of training time a year to help improve your skills

This role is based on site at our Leamington Spa studio, UK. We offer hybrid working allowing Monday and Friday as work from home days.