Character Artist (ExDev - Contract)

Side Hamburg; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering studio known for its award-winning titles, seeking a talented Character Artist to enhance character development. In this dynamic role, you will review and refine outsourced character assets, ensuring they align with the artistic vision of an upcoming title. Your expertise in character modeling, sculpting, and texturing will be crucial as you collaborate with both internal and external teams. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a high-quality production pipeline while working in an inclusive environment that values creativity and innovation. If you are passionate about character art and eager to make an impact, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in 3D character art with outsourcing workflows.
• Strong understanding of character modeling, texturing, and real-time engines.

Responsibilities

• Review and provide feedback on outsourced character art assets.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth asset delivery.

Skills

3D Character Modeling

Sculpting

Texturing

Real-time Game Pipelines

Communication Skills

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts or related field

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

Photoshop

Substance Painter

Substance Designer

Job description

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.

Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Character Artist to assist our External Development (ExDev) Senior Character Artist in managing and reviewing outsourced character assets for our upcoming title.

In this role, you will review and provide feedback on external character art assets, ensuring they meet our high-quality standards and integrate seamlessly into our production pipeline. You will work closely with external partners, internal stakeholders, and the ExDev team to help deliver visually compelling characters while maintaining the project's artistic vision.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in character modeling, sculpting, and texturing and experience working with outsourced content and external teams. A keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of real-time game pipelines are essential for success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the ExDev Senior Character Artist to review and provide detailed feedback on outsourced character art assets, ensuring visual consistency and quality.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the game's artistic direction, technical requirements, and production guidelines to assist external teams effectively.
• Partner with internal stakeholders, including concept artists, technical artists, and animation teams, to ensure smooth asset delivery and implementation.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation and feedback templates to streamline communication with external partners.
• Provide artistic support where needed, including but not limited to asset cleanup, material adjustments, and polish passes.
• Research industry trends, tools, and techniques to improve ExDev workflows and enhance outsourced asset quality.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience as a 3D Character Artist, with exposure to outsourcing workflows preferred.
• Experience reviewing and providing feedback on outsourced character assets.
• Strong understanding of character modeling, sculpting, texturing, and material setup in a real-time game engine.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Substance Painter/Designer.
• Solid understanding of anatomy, proportion, topology, UV layout, and PBR workflows.
• Experience working within a game development pipeline, including optimization techniques for real-time rendering.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to provide clear and actionable feedback.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and maintain constructive relationships with external teams.
• Self-motivated with strong time management and prioritization skills to handle multiple assignments.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in an ExDev or outsourcing support role at a game studio.
• Familiarity with proprietary game engines and the technical constraints of AAA console development.
• Understanding rigging, animation requirements, and best practices for character deformation.
• Experience with photogrammetry, scan data cleanup, or procedural workflows.
• The ability to speak Mandarin is a plus, as some outsourcing partners may speak Mandarin.