Aerial Character Designer for Immersive Drone Performances

SCALIS; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company matching

Flexible PTO and paid sick leave

Paid parental leave

Company-paid holidays

Equity opportunities for eligible

Job summary

Nova Sky Stories in the United States is looking for a talented Character Designer to shape unforgettable stories told in the sky. You’ll create original characters that begin as expressive 2D concepts and evolve into large-scale 3D drone performances viewed by audiences around the world.

Working closely with Creative Directors, artists, animators, and technical teams, you’ll transform creative ideas into memorable characters that communicate emotion, personality, and story within the unique

Qualifications

• Professional experience designing characters for animation, games, feature films, themed entertainment, or comparable visual storytelling environments.
• Exceptional drawing, illustration, and concept design skills with a strong understanding of anatomy, gesture, shape language, silhouette, proportion, and character appeal.
• Ability to translate abstract ideas and creative direction into memorable characters that communicate personality, emotion, and story.
• Experience creating character turnarounds, expression sheets, pose explorations, technical callouts, and production-ready design packages.
• Strong understanding of visual storytelling, design fundamentals, composition, color, and form.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills with the ability to incorporate feedback and iterate efficiently within a multidisciplinary creative team.
• Ability to manage multiple creative priorities while maintaining exceptional artistic quality and meeting production deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Design original characters from early concept exploration through final production-ready artwork for large-scale drone performances.
• Translate story ideas, creative briefs, and artistic direction into compelling characters that support narrative, emotion, and audience engagement.
• Develop character turnarounds, expression sheets, pose explorations, silhouettes, and supporting design assets that communicate personality and performance.
• Partner closely with Creative Directors and creative leadership to refine character concepts through collaboration, feedback, and creative iteration.
• Create visual guides and design documentation that enable artists, animators, and technical teams to successfully develop characters into three-dimensional aerial experiences.
• Collaborate across creative and technical disciplines to ensure character designs remain visually compelling while supporting production and technological requirements.
• Explore creative solutions that balance artistic vision with the opportunities and constraints of live drone entertainment.
• Maintain organized production files, documentation, and design assets while meeting project schedules and quality expectations.
• Participate in creative reviews, design discussions, brainstorming sessions, and production meetings to help shape the overall artistic direction of each project.
• Support additional concept development, world-building, and visual design initiatives as needed.

Skills

Character design

Illustration

Animation concepts

Storytelling

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Nova Sky Stories in the United States is looking for a talented Character Designer to shape unforgettable stories told in the sky. You’ll create original characters that begin as expressive 2D concepts and evolve into large-scale 3D drone performances viewed by audiences around the world.

Working closely with Creative Directors, artists, animators, and technical teams, you’ll transform creative ideas into memorable characters that communicate emotion, personality, and story within the unique