3D Environment Artist - Talent Pool (APAC)

Sideinc; Auckland; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sideinc seeks an experienced Environment Artist to create high-quality 3D world assets, ensuring they fit the project's creative vision and gameplay requirements.

You will collaborate with art leads and designers to craft immersive environments, model, texture, and optimize assets for real-time performance. A strong eye for composition, lighting, and detail is essential, with flexibility for both realistic and stylized styles.

Qualifications

• 3+ years as an Environment Artist in the video game industry.
• Contributed to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.
• Proficient with Maya, Blender, Photoshop, Substance Painter/Designer, and Unity or Unreal.
• Strong 3D modeling, UV mapping, texturing and material creation.
• Familiar with real-time environment optimization techniques.
• Excellent composition, lighting and color sense.
• Capable of both realistic and stylized environments.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Problem-solving mindset and openness to feedback.
• Genuine enthusiasm for immersive game worlds.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D environment assets aligned with creative vision and gameplay needs.
• Collaborate with art leads, designers, and teammates to craft immersive worlds.
• Model, texture, UV map, and optimize assets for real-time performance across platforms.
• Develop and maintain art pipelines and workflows for efficient production.
• Ensure environmental art style and quality consistency across the project.
• Troubleshoot artistic or technical issues during production.
• Stay updated on industry trends to continually improve environment art.

Skills

Environment art experience

Shipped title contribution

3D composition

Lighting

Color theory

Detail orientation

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Genuine enthusiasm for game worlds

Tools

Maya

Blender

Photoshop

Substance Painter/Designer

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About Side

Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 15+ studios in over a dozen countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.

About This Opportunity

Please note, this listing is not for an immediate open position but for our Talent Pool for Co-Development Roles. By applying, you express interest in being considered for future project-based opportunities that align with your skills and experience.

These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. As projects are initiated or client proposals are developed, we will review candidates from this pool and contact those who most closely align with the specific requirements of the co-development opportunity.

How We Keep You Engaged

We maintain strong relationships with our talent pool by providing regular updates, industry insights, and information on upcoming opportunities. We will check in to confirm your availability and interest.

Our hiring teams carefully vet and select top candidates who best meet project needs, ensuring that you are matched with the right opportunity when it becomes available.

Next Steps

If you are passionate about contributing to cutting-edge projects and want to be considered for future co-development opportunities, we encourage you to apply to this listing. While there may not be an immediate opening, your application ensures that you will be part of our ongoing talent review for upcoming roles.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D environment assets, including landscapes, architecture, and props, ensuring alignment with the project’s creative vision and gameplay requirements.
• Work closely with art leads, game designers, and other team members to craft immersive, visually appealing game worlds.
• Utilize industry-standard tools to model, texture, and optimize assets for real-time performance across platforms.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of art pipelines and workflows to ensure efficient production.
• Ensure consistency in environmental art style and quality across the project.
• Collaborate in troubleshooting and resolving artistic or technical issues that arise during production.
• Stay updated on industry trends and techniques to continuously improve the quality of environment art.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience as an Environment Artist in the video game industry.
• Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.
• Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya, Blender, Photoshop, Substance Painter/Designer, and either Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Strong understanding of 3D modeling, UV mapping, texturing, and material creation.
• Familiarity with optimization techniques for real-time environments.
• Strong eye for composition, lighting, color theory, and detail.
• Ability to create both realistic and stylized environments as needed.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities to collaborate effectively with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Problem-solving mindset and the ability to adapt to feedback and iterative processes.
• Genuine enthusiasm for crafting immersive game worlds.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with procedural tools or pipelines (e.g., Houdini).
• Familiarity with photogrammetry workflows.
• Knowledge of scripting or technical art tools for workflow efficiency.

Note: Specific requirements may vary depending on project needs.