Concept Artist

DIGITAL EXTREMES Ltd.; London (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Digital Extremes is seeking a Concept Artist to join the Warframe team at our London, Ontario studio. This role focuses on original and imaginative concept art for characters, worlds and assets, collaborating with artists to set the game's look and feel, and delivering work on schedule.

Applicants should have strong anatomy and life drawing skills, experience with Photoshop or ZBrush, and a portfolio that demonstrates a range of styles.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating excellent artistic sensibilities and ability for a range of styles.
• Traditional art skills with an exceptional understanding of human anatomy, perspective and life drawing.
• Strong understanding of lighting, composition, color theory, atmosphere, materials and textures.

Responsibilities

• Create original and imaginative concept art for characters, the world and other assets that will inspire the team and help set the tone, look and feel of our games.
• Collaborate with other artists to design architecture, characters and broader environmental design of the game.
• Work with the Art Director, Creative Director and Game Designer to translate direction and reinforce the game's visual design.
• Deliver work on time and according to schedule.
• Engage with the production team to stay aligned on scope and details.

Skills

Concept art

Anatomy

Life drawing

Observation

Collaboration

Tools

Photoshop

ZBrush

Job description

ABOUT THIS POSITION
Digital Extremes is seeking a Concept Artist to join our Warframe team. This role will be onsite at our studio in London, Ontario. Concept art at Digital Extremes can be a fast process with changes happening on the fly. Our game development process is ambitious and flexible as we try and adjust to the current market trends and try to meet the needs of our vast and loyal community. With each update we try to iterate and innovate, so an ideal candidate will have the ability to dream big and then execute with strong fundamental based abilities to present their artistic vision. Creating clear and concise production art is a must. You will have a strong understanding of anatomy, perspective and great observational skills for life drawing. We are looking for someone strong in character and weapon designs. Preferred extras include experience working in Photoshop and ZBrush or programs of similar distinction.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create original and imaginative concept art for characters, the world and other assets that will inspire the team and help set the tone, look and feel of our games.
• Effectively collaborate with other artists to create the architectural design, character design and broader environmental design of the game.
• Work closely with the Art Director, Creative Director and Game Designer to take creative direction as well as reinforce the execution of the game’s visual design.
• Contribute innovative and original ideas toward all aspects of the game’s production and development.
• Deliver work on time and according to schedule.
• Accept and provide direction with team members and participate and engage with the entire production team to stay current on the scope and understanding of the project.
• Possess exemplary oral and written communication skills and the ability to follow direction and to collaborate successfully with others.
• A positive outlook with the ability to self-direct and have an artistic vision, combined with a dedicated work ethic.
• Multitask effectively; prioritize competing demands, and follow through on details.

REQUIREMENTS

• A portfolio that demonstrates excellent artistic sensibilities and the ability for a range of styles.
• Traditional art skills with an exceptional understanding of the human anatomy, perspective and life drawing.
• Strong understanding of lighting, composition, color theory, atmosphere, materials and textures.
• Must be able to work within an established art style and deliver clear and concise production art.

PREFERRED EXTRAS

• Storyboarding experience.
• Photoshop and/or Zbrush experience.
• Previous experience in the gaming field or similar industry.
• A positive and passionate attitude towards concept art and production design.

“Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.”

Please note that the salary range mentioned in this job description should serve simply as a guide. The final compensation offered may vary based on a variety of factors, including bonuses and/or incentives, or a candidate’s experience, skills, budget and location. Digital Extremes is committed to providing a fair, equitable, and competitive package that reflects the value a candidate brings.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $72,000 CAD

Existing Vacancy: Yes – we’re currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position

We believe in the power of human connection. At Digital Extremes, we do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select candidates. All applications are reviewed by human, qualified recruiters.

During your interview, our recruitment team will leverage Gemini as a note-taker only. At Digital Extremes, a core value of our studio is that we do not leverage AI in any of our development processes; this is a strict company policy.

Please note that we permit the use of AI tools exclusively for administrative support, it is not used for candidate selection, screening, or any part of the decision-making process. All evaluations are conducted solely by our team to ensure our hiring remains a human-led process, just as our development remains the work of our artists and creators.

ABOUT DIGITAL EXTREMES

Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes ranks as one of the world's top independent video game development studios. Originating with the co-creation of Epic Games' multi-million unit selling Unreal® franchise including Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Digital Extremes went on to develop Dark Sector®, BioShock® for the PlayStation®3, the BioShock 2 multiplayer campaign, and The Darkness® II. The studio has reached its greatest critical and commercial success with the free-to-play action game, Warframe®, boasting a global community of 75 million registered players on PC, PS4™, PS5™, Xbox One™, Xbox Series X/S™, Nintendo Switch™, and iOS™. The studio's most recently announced project is the much anticipated Soulframe®, an open-world action-fantasy MMORPG title that is currently under development.

Digital Extremes is headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, and is proud to be selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers.

For more information and exciting news related to Digital Extremes, please visit www.digitalextremes.com.

WHY WORK AT DIGITAL EXTREMES

At Digital Extremes, we don’t just make games - we craft immersive worlds that inspire and connect millions of players around the globe. Our award-winning studio is home to passionate, creative, and collaborative talent who thrive in a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and respect. We offer competitive compensation, industry-leading benefits, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities to grow your career while working on beloved titles like Warframe and the highly anticipated Soulframe. Whether you’re developing cutting-edge gameplay, designing stunning art, or supporting the teams that make it all happen, you’ll be part of a studio where your ideas matter, your contributions are valued, and your work leaves a lasting impact on our community. Please note, some benefits may be subject to eligibility for employees.

JOIN US

At Digital Extremes, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our people and the respect we show one another. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a welcoming, accessible, and supportive environment where everyone can do their best work and feel valued for who they are. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including those from underrepresented communities and people with disabilities. If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process, we will work with you to ensure you have the support you need. We truly appreciate your interest in joining our team, and while we may not be able to respond to every application, we will connect directly with candidates moving forward in the process.