Assistant Professor of Game Design and Emerging Media

Samford University; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Samford University’s School of the Arts invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Design. This tenure-track, nine-month faculty appointment will begin in August 2027.

The candidate should have an MFA or terminal degree in Game Design, 3D Animation, Interactive Media, or a related field from an accredited university, with a demonstrated record of professional or scholarly work in the field.

Qualifications

• MFA or terminal degree in Game Design, 3D Animation, Interactive Media, or related field from an accredited university.
• Demonstrated record of professional, creative, or scholarly work in the field through production, shipped projects, exhibitions, publications, research, or similar achievements.
• Expertise in Unreal Engine and real-time game development; specialization in technical art, game programming, or game animation; experience with core tools Maya, Photoshop, Substance 3D Painter/Designer, and ZBrush; familiarity with Houdini, XR, AI welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses for the Game Design program and digital foundations; mentor students in a multidisciplinary game-development curriculum.
• Contribute to departmental teaching and service, supporting collaborations across art and design disciplines.
• Engage in ongoing professional or scholarly work and production-related activities.

Skills

Unreal Engine

Real-time game development

Blueprints/C++

Game programming

Game animation

Rigging

Real-time VFX

Shaders and materials

Procedural workflows

Gameplay systems

XR/AI

Education

MFA or terminal degree in Game Design/3D Animation/Interactive Media or related field

Tools

Maya

Photoshop

Substance 3D Painter/Designer

ZBrush

Houdini

Job description

Position: Assistant Professor of Game Design and Emerging Media

Status: Tenure Track

Employment: 9-months

November 11, 2026

Samford University’s School of the Arts invites applications from individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment for a position in the Department of Art and Design, at the rank of Assistant Professor. This tenure-track, nine-month faculty appointment will begin in August 2027.

The candidate should have a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or appropriate terminal degree in Game Design, 3D Animation, Interactive Media, or a related field from an institutionally accredited university (or equivalent). Candidates should demonstrate a record of professional, creative, or scholarly work in the field through production experience, shipped projects, exhibitions, publications, research, or comparable professional accomplishments.

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in Unreal Engine and real-time game development, with a primary specialization in one or more complementary areas such as technical art, game programming, or game animation. Relevant expertise may include gameplay systems and Blueprints/C++, character or gameplay animation, rigging, real-time VFX, shaders and materials, procedural workflows, or related technical pipelines. Experience with the program’s core production tools including Maya, Photoshop, Substance 3D Painter/Designer, and ZBrush is desirable. Experience with Houdini, virtual production, extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence, or other emerging interactive technologies is also welcomed.

The successful candidate will teach courses supporting the Game Design program in their area of expertise, as well as digital foundations and other art/design coursework as needed. Candidates should demonstrate sufficient breadth to teach and mentor students within a multidisciplinary game-development curriculum.

Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford (samford.edu) is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls more than 6,500 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools with 450 full-time faculty. Samford is ranked #3 in the nation for career preparation. #5 for most recommended colleges, and #7 in the nation for student learning opportunities as listed in The Wall Street Journal (2026). The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

Applications will be accepted immediately and continue through December 15, 2026.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate must pass a background check and must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford University will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

In accordance with applicable federal and state laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments, the University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, religion, or any other protected status under federal, state or local law applicable to the University, in its education policies, programs, and activities, in its admissions policies, in employment policies and practices, and all other areas of the University. As a faith-based institution, the University is exempted from certain laws and regulations concerning discrimination.