Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist

Keywords Studios Plc; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Keywords Studios Plc is expanding in Southeast Asia and seeking an accomplished Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist to contribute to a new project. The role may be permanent or fixed-term, with remote/hybrid options across APAC regions including Singapore.

You will guide other artists and shape the visual quality for hard surface assets, from vehicles to machinery and architecture. You will mentor teams, optimize workflows, and ensure assets meet real-time performance requirements, working

Qualifications

• Proven track record as a Senior/Principal/Lead Hard Surface Artist on shipped AAA or high-quality game project.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality hard surface modelling across asset types.
• Excellent knowledge of shape, proportion, materials, construction, and mechanical design.
• Experience with high-poly/low-poly workflows, baking, texturing, and PBR materials.
• Ability to mentor or provide artistic direction to other artists.

Responsibilities

• Creates high-quality hard surface assets meeting artistic and technical requirements.
• Works across assets like vehicles, weapons, machinery, props, architecture, and other mechanical forms.
• Helps establish visual and quality bars for hard surface production.
• Collaborates with Art Direction, Environment Art, Technical Art and Design to ensure assets are visually strong and gameplay-ready.
• Provides hands-on guidance, feedback and mentoring to other artists.
• Develops efficient modelling, texturing and asset creation approaches.
• Ensures assets are optimised for real-time performance and platform requirements.
• Troubleshoots technical and production issues related to hard surface assets and workflows.
• Contributes to visual benchmarks and best practices for hard surface production.

Skills

Hard surface modelling

Mentoring

Collaboration

Real-time optimization

PBR materials

Portfolio showcases

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Scripting (Python, Mel)

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.

• 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.

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

By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice.

Role Information: EN

Studio: Keywords Studios

Location: APAC, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore

Area of Work: Art

Service: Create

Employment Type: Permanent / Contract

Working Pattern: Full Time, Remote/Hybrid