Principal Artist- External Development (AAA RPG)

Scopely; United States; On-site; USD 164,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Retirement

Unlimited paid time off

Pet insurance

Job summary

Scopely is seeking a Principal Artist to join the Slate Development Group in the US, focusing on a AAA action RPG. This role involves leading art direction, overseeing visual quality, and collaborating closely with external studios. Candidates should have over 7 years of game art experience, including at least 2 years in a lead role, along with expertise in 3D game development. The position offers a competitive salary range of $164,000 – $240,000 USD and a comprehensive benefits package, promoting a strong work-life balance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional game art experience, with at least 2+ years in a lead or senior role.
• Experience working on AAA action RPGs or high-end action RPGs on mobile or PC.
• Proven experience collaborating with external or offshore development studios.

Responsibilities

• Uphold and evolve the game’s visual identity and tone.
• Guide and coordinate art quality across external studios.
• Perform visual callouts and feedback to elevate art quality.

Skills

Game art experience

3D Game Development

Leadership

Excellent communication

Collaboration with external teams

Tools

Unity

Job description

Principal Artist - External Development (AAA RPG)

Location: US - United States

Scopely is looking for a Principal Artist to join our Slate Development Group in the US. We are developing a AAA action RPG based on a world‑renowned IP and need a candidate who brings strong artistic authority and deep world‑building sensibility, with hands‑on 3D game development expertise.

What You Will Do

• Art Direction & Visual Quality
  • Uphold and evolve the game’s visual identity, tone, and worldbuilding.
  • Ensure a cohesive visual experience across characters, environments, VFX, and UI.
  • Apply strong understanding of:
  • Composition (visual, gameplay, and cinematic)
  • Lighting, materials, and atmosphere
  • Environmental storytelling and realism
• External Studio Leadership
  • Partner with our external development studio to guide and coordinate art quality across characters, environments, VFX, UI, and more to achieve AAA-quality output.
  • Help establish and maintain efficient art workflows, feedback loops, and quality standards across time zones.
  • Translate creative vision into clear, actionable direction for external teams.
• Quality Bar & Visual Development
  • Perform paintovers, visual callouts, and written feedback to elevate the art to a AAA-quality bar.
  • Identify visual risks early and proactively course‑correct to maintain style, readability, and polish.
  • Help define and uphold the game’s visual style, ensuring consistency across all art deliverables.
• Work closely with Tech Art, Design, and Production to ensure:
  • Art is fully functional in‑engine.
  • Assets meet performance and gameplay readability standards.
  • Bridge the gap between concept art and final in‑game execution.
• Feedback & Communication
  • Review art submissions and playtest builds to provide concise, actionable feedback that is clear, respectful, and actionable.
  • Translate high‑level creative direction into concrete, production‑ready visual guidance for our Shanghai studio.
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure art supports gameplay and performance needs.
  • Partner with our IP holder to establish visual guidelines, approvals, and feedback.
  • Clearly interpret and relay art feedback to the development team, helping them understand intent and constraints.
  • Ensure all art content aligns with established IP canon, while still meeting gameplay needs and driving towards a world‑class player experience.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional game art experience, with at least 2+ years in a lead or senior role.
• Experience working on AAA action RPGs or fantasy titles or high‑end action RPGs on mobile or PC.
• 3D Game Development expertise and deep understanding of real‑time game development.
• Proven experience collaborating with external or offshore development studios.
• Comfortable doing hands‑on paintovers and async visual problem‑solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for giving clear, constructive feedback.
• Experience working with established IPs and navigating approval pipelines.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with teams in China or across multiple time zones.
• Familiarity with Unity pipelines and tooling.
• Passion for low‑fantasy / grounded worlds.

Benefits & Salary

For candidates in CA, CO, NJ, NY, and WA, the annual salary range is $164,000 – $240,000 USD. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for equity, bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, retirement, pet insurance, paid holidays, paid Scopely free days, and unlimited paid time off. Base pay offered may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Employment at Scopely is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications. Scopely does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.