Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist

Game Companies; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Keywords Studios is expanding its Southeast Asia team and seeks a Principal/Lead Hard Surface Artist for an exciting, new project. Roles may be permanent or fixed-term, located in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam (Remote), or Singapore (on-site).

You will create high-quality hard surface assets, mentor artists, and help establish production standards across vehicles, weapons, and architecture. Collaborate with Art Direction, Environment, Tech Art, and Design to ensure assets are visually strong and

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Senior/Principal/Lead Hard Surface Artist on AAA or high-quality project.
• Strong portfolio of hard surface modelling across asset types.
• Deep understanding of mechanical design and materials.
• Experience with high-poly/low-poly workflows, baking, texturing, and PBR.
• Proficiency with Unreal, Unity, or proprietary engines.
• Ability to mentor and provide artistic direction.
• Collaborative work across disciplines and quick iteration.
• Experience with procedural workflows or scripting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality hard surface assets meeting project requirements.
• Work across vehicles, weapons, machinery, props, architecture.
• Establish visual and quality bar for hard surface production.
• Collaborate with Art Direction, Environment, Tech Art, Design for gameplay.
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentoring.
• Develop efficient modelling, texturing, asset creation methods.
• Ensure assets are optimized for real-time performance.
• Troubleshoot technical and production issues.
• Contribute to visual benchmarks and best practices.

Skills

Hard surface art

Portfolio quality

Unreal/Unity

Real-time optimization

Mentoring

3D tools

PBR materials

Scripting/pipeline

Cross-discipline collaboration

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Proprietary engines

Job description

Keywords Studios is currently looking to expand its team in Southeast Asia. We're currently looking for an accomplished, enthusiastic and self-motivated Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist to join our team working on an exciting, new and unannounced project.

Keywords Studios is a global leader providing art services to AAA Publishers. Our work can be seen across many of the top-selling titles on console, PC and mobile. You'll get to work alongside seasoned developers bringing expertise from world-class AAA studios.

This position may be offered as either a permanent or fixed-term contract role, depending on the project's requirements, business needs, and the candidate's experience and level.

These opportunities can be located in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam (Remote), or Singapore (on-site). Sponsorship and relocation are not being offered as part of this package.

A Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist at Keywords Studios:

• Creates high-quality hard surface assets that meet the artistic and technical requirements of the project.
• Works across a range of assets such as vehicles, weapons, machinery, props, architecture, and other complex mechanical or manufactured forms.
• Helps establish the visual and quality bar for hard surface production across the project.
• Works closely with Art Direction, Environment Art, Technical Art, and Design to ensure assets are visually strong, functional, and appropriate for gameplay.
• Provides hands-on guidance, feedback, and mentoring to other artists.
• Develops efficient modelling, texturing, and asset creation approaches suited to production needs.
• Ensures assets are optimised appropriately for real-time performance and platform requirements.
• Troubleshoots technical and production issues related to hard surface assets and workflows.
• Contributes to visual benchmarks and helps establish best practices for hard surface production.

Benefits

Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Commitment: Keywords Studios is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. If you require any adjustments during the process please let us know in your application. We are committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation. We especially welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented groups in the industry.

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY

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Experience & Requirements

• Proven experience as a Senior, Principal, or Lead Hard Surface Artist on a shipped AAA or high-quality game project.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality hard surface modelling across a range of asset types.
• Strong understanding of shape, proportion, materials, construction, and mechanical design.
• Strong knowledge of high-poly and low-poly workflows, baking, texturing, and PBR materials.
• Proficiency with modern 3D content creation tools and game engines such as Unreal, Unity, or proprietary engines.
• Good understanding of optimisation requirements for real-time assets.
• Experience mentoring or providing artistic direction to other artists.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and iterate quickly based on feedback.
• Experience with procedural workflows, scripting, or pipeline improvements is an advantage.