Senior Character Artist

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Professional development

Creative studio environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Character Artist for our Queenstown studio to create AAA-quality characters. You will sculpt, model, texture, and optimize assets for real-time engines, collaborating with the art team to define style and benchmarks.

Ideal candidates bring 6+ years' experience, strong anatomy knowledge, and proficiency in ZBrush, Maya/Blender, and PBR workflows, with Unreal or Unity experience. Join a creative studio environment in New Zealand.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in character art for video games with a AAA portfolio.
• Expertise in ZBrush; proficient in Maya or Blender.
• Strong anatomy, form, and fabric knowledge; optimized for real-time rendering.
• Experience with game engines (Unreal or Unity) and PBR pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Sculpt, model, and texture high-fidelity 3D characters for video games, ensuring artistic quality and technical optimization.
• Collaborate with the Art Director and Lead Character Artist to define and maintain character art style and quality benchmarks.
• Create detailed anatomical forms, facial features, clothing, and accessories that adhere to concept art and project requirements.
• Optimize character models and textures for real-time rendering, managing polygon counts, UV layouts, and texture memory.
• Work with technical artists to implement characters into the game engine, troubleshoot skinning/rigging issues, and ensure proper material setup.
• Participate in character reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to enhance character quality.
• Research and gather photographic and real-world references to inform character designs and ensure authenticity.
• Mentor junior character artists and share knowledge of best practices in character art production.

Skills

ZBrush

Maya

Blender

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Quixel Suite

Anatomy knowledge

PBR workflows

Unreal Engine

Unity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts or related field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned game development studio recognized for its visually rich and character-driven games, is seeking an accomplished Senior Character Artist to join their esteemed art team in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . This role is critical for conceptualizing, sculpting, and texturing high-quality 3D characters that bring our game worlds to life.

You will work closely with the art director, character technical artists, and other disciplines to ensure characters are not only visually stunning but also technically sound for integration into the game engine. We are looking for an artist with exceptional sculpting skills, a strong understanding of anatomy, form, and fabric, and a passion for creating memorable characters. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to exciting new IPs and established franchises within a collaborative and creative studio environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Sculpt, model, and texture high-fidelity 3D characters for video games, ensuring artistic quality and technical optimization.
• Collaborate with the Art Director and Lead Character Artist to define and maintain character art style and quality benchmarks.
• Create detailed anatomical forms, facial features, clothing, and accessories that adhere to concept art and project requirements.
• Optimize character models and textures for real-time rendering, managing polygon counts, UV layouts, and texture memory.
• Work with technical artists to implement characters into the game engine, troubleshoot skinning/rigging issues, and ensure proper material setup.
• Participate in character reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to enhance character quality.
• Research and gather photographic and real-world references to inform character designs and ensure authenticity.
• Mentor junior character artists and share knowledge of best practices in character art production.

Requirements

• 6+ years of professional experience in character art for video games, with a strong portfolio showcasing AAA-quality character models.
• Expertise in ZBrush for sculpting, and proficiency in Maya or Blender for modeling.
• Advanced skills in 3D texturing using software such as Substance Painter, Photoshop, and Quixel Suite.
• Strong understanding of human anatomy, proportion, and form, as well as fabric and material properties.
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• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and familiarity with their character pipelines, including PBR workflows.
• Excellent eye for detail, silhouette, and color.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Digital Art, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional development. Join a talented and passionate team in our Queenstown, Eastern Cape studio, where you can contribute to groundbreaking game titles and grow your career. We foster a supportive and creative work environment.