Environment Artist – StarCraft | Irvine, CA

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Health Savings Account or Health Reimb

401(k) with Company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Paid sick time

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment is seeking an Environment Artist for StarCraft in Irvine, CA, blending story-driven design with an open-world shooter approach. You will craft high-quality environment artwork and collaborate across design, art, engineering, and VFX to deliver immersive environments.

You should have 5+ years in AAA environment art, a shipping title, and proficiency with industry-standard 3D workflows and PBR content. The role supports a hybrid on-site/remote schedule at the Irvine studio.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in AAA Environment Art.
• Shipped at least one major title in a relevant role.
• Experience with a AAA game engine and asset integration.
• Understanding of authoring PBR content.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with designers, artists, engineers, and other departments to deliver environment artwork.
• Create and iterate on environment art from concept to completion.
• Contribute to content briefs and guidelines for internal and external artists.
• Perform environment tasks including level set-dressing, asset creation, terrain manipulation, and material work.
• Stay current on industry trends and engine workflows.
• Work with production to meet deadlines and identify blockers.

Skills

Environment Art

AAA experience

Portfolio

PBR/content knowledge

Team collaboration

Job description

Team Name: StarCraft Job Title: Environment Artist - StarCraft | Irvine, CA Requisition ID: R028112 Job Description:

Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of StarCraft, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games. We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make StarCraft, and its about damn time. We are looking for an Environment Artist to help craft this new game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering. As an important member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality Environment Artwork through artistic and technical knowledge. You understand how to effectively build, integrate, and optimize a variety of Environment asset types as well as how to support the gameplay experience. You are comfortable operating in a startup environment, navigating through ambiguity with purpose.

This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.

Responsibilities

• Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities: Working closely with the Environment leadership team, you will collaborate with designers, artists, engineers, Materials, VFX and Lighting departments to deliver game environment artwork.
• Use your experience in Environment Art creation to contribute to our working practices from iterative prototyping to final best-in-class execution across a range of Environment tasks including level set-dressing, asset creation, collaboration with external partners, terrain manipulation, and material work.
• Contribute to content creation briefs and guidelines to guide the work of internal and external artists.
• Directly contribute to the practical work of taking Environments from concept to completion.
• Remain current on industry trends including advancement in commercial game engines and workflow efficiencies.
• Work with production to complete tasks within the given timeframe identifying any blockers and workflow improvements early.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience 5+ years of experience in AAA Environment Art.
• Confirmed experience, having shipped at least one major title in a relevant role.
• Knowledge & Skills Experience working with a AAA game engine with strong understanding of implementation and integration.
• Strong understanding of key aspects of Environment Art creation including proficiency in industry-standard 3D workflows.
• A portfolio, with examples and detailed breakdowns, showcasing your practical work.
• Understanding of authoring PBR compliant content.

Key Attributes

• A team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration, and partnering with all departments.
• The ability to Inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.
• Self-motivated ability to deliver on tasks in a timely manner.
• Solid understanding of game art creation outside of Environment Art (e.g. Lighting, VFX, Characters, Animation, Rendering).
• An interest in Photography and Cinema.
• Experience creating and handling photogrammetry data.
• Passion for playing a variety of video games.
• Knowledge of 3D composition, form, balance, and color theory.
• Passion for playing a variety of video games.

Your Platform At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we’ve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We’re on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences...ever. Hard work, iteration and polish go into the Blizzard "secret recipe", but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

Rewards

• We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we’ve got our employees covered!
• Medical
• dental
• vision
• health savings account or health reimbursement account
• healthcare spending accounts
• dependent care spending accounts
• life and AD&D insurance
• disability insurance
• 401(k) with Company match
• tuition reimbursement
• charitable donation matching
• Paid holidays and vacation
• paid sick time
• floating holidays
• compassion and bereavement leaves
• parental leave
• Mental health & wellbeing programs
• fitness programs
• free and discounted games
• a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
• Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.
• You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $30.47 - $56.35 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process.

In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

Blizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software. By focusing on creating well-designed, highly enjoyable entertainment experiences, Blizzard Entertainment has maintained an unparalleled reputation for quality since its inception.