Senior 3D Environment Artist

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid and benefits

Performance bonuses

Hybrid role with Queenstown facility

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior 3D Environment Artist for our Queenstown studio to build immersive game environments.

You will model, texture, and assemble environments, collaborate with art directors, optimize for performance, and mentor junior artists. The role is hybrid in Queenstown; requires 5+ years experience and a strong portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, 3D Animation, Game Design, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional 3D environment art for video games.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Texturing and material work using Substance Painter/Designer or Photoshop.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong art fundamentals: composition, color, lighting.
• Portfolio showcasing high-quality environment art.
• Able to work independently and in a team.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D environment assets (modeling, sculpting, texturing, materials).
• Collaborate with directors and designers to shape look and feel.
• Optimize assets for performance across platforms.
• Assemble environments in the game engine ensuring coherence and paths.
• Maintain knowledge of environment art pipelines and best practices.
• Research references to ensure authentic detail.
• Troubleshoot technical/art issues in environment art.
• Contribute to style guides and asset consistency.
• Mentor junior environment artists.

Skills

3D environment art

Maya/Max/Blender

Texture/Materials

Unreal/Unity

Art fundamentals

Portfolio

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or related field

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Substance Designer

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a studio celebrated for its rich, detailed worlds, is seeking a talented Senior 3D Environment Artist to join their creative team in Queenstown, Eastern Cape. This role is instrumental in building the immersive and visually captivating environments that players explore. You will be responsible for creating high-quality 3D assets, including props, architecture, and terrain, that bring game worlds to life. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you'll ensure artistic consistency and technical optimization for stunning in-game environments. If you have a passion for environmental storytelling, a keen eye for detail, and a strong command of industry-standard tools, we encourage you to apply. Join our growing studio in Queenstown and contribute to the creation of memorable gaming experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D environment assets, including modeling, sculpting, texturing, and material creation.
• Collaborate with art directors and level designers to achieve the desired look and feel for game environments.
• Optimize environment assets for performance across target platforms.
• Assemble and dress environments within the game engine, ensuring artistic coherence and player pathing.
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of environmental art pipelines and best practices.
• Research and gather references to ensure authenticity and detail in environmental designs.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any technical or artistic issues related to environment art.
• Contribute to environmental art style guides and maintain asset consistency.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior environment artists.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, 3D Animation, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D environment art for video games.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.
• Expertise in texturing and material creation using software like Substance Painter, Substance Designer, or Photoshop.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong understanding of art fundamentals, including composition, color theory, and lighting.
• A portfolio showcasing high-quality environment art assets and scene composition is required.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including medical aid, performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional development.
• This hybrid role offers the flexibility to balance remote work with in-studio collaboration at our Queenstown facility.
• You’ll enjoy a creative and supportive work environment, the chance to work on exciting new projects, and be part of a team dedicated to artistic excellence in Queenstown.