Senior 3D Environment Artist - Next-Gen Worlds

Placements24; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Remote flexibility

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior 3D Environment Artist for a Randburg-based studio, blending artistry with technical pipelines to build immersive game worlds.

You will craft models, textures, and layouts, optimize assets for Unreal Engine or Unity, mentor juniors, and ensure art direction remains consistent across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D environment art for games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing environmental art, texturing, and scene composition.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D models, textures, and materials for game environments, including props, architecture, and foliage.
• Assemble and dress environments in a game engine (Unreal/Unity), ensuring strong composition and storytelling.
• Optimize assets and scene layouts for performance and visual fidelity.
• Collaborate with level designers, art directors, and artists to meet the project's aesthetic and gameplay goals.
• Research references to inform realistic or stylized environments.
• Implement lighting, post-processing, and atmosphere to enhance mood.
• Develop and maintain efficient environment art pipelines and workflows.
• Provide mentorship to junior environment artists.
• Ensure artistic consistency with project style guides.
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to environment art creation and implementation.

Skills

Excellent artistic fundamentals

Strong communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or related field

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Substance Painter

Substance Designer

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior 3D Environment Artist to join their award-winning studio in Randburg, Gauteng . This role is crucial for crafting breathtaking and believable game worlds. You will be responsible for creating high-quality 3D assets, building intricate environments, and optimizing them for performance across multiple platforms. The ideal candidate possesses a strong artistic eye, exceptional technical skills, and a deep understanding of environment art pipelines. This is a hybrid role, allowing for collaborative work within the studio while incorporating remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D models, textures, and materials for game environments, including props, architecture, and foliage.
• Assemble and dress environments within a game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), ensuring compelling composition and visual storytelling.
• Optimize environment assets and scene layouts for maximum performance and visual fidelity.
• Collaborate closely with level designers, art directors, and other artists to achieve the desired aesthetic and gameplay experience.
• Research and gather reference materials to inform the creation of realistic or stylized environments.
• Implement lighting, post-processing effects, and atmospheric elements to enhance mood and realism.
• Develop and maintain efficient environment art pipelines and workflows.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior environment artists.
• Ensure artistic consistency and adherence to project style guides.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to environment art creation and implementation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D environment art for games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional environmental art, including detailed models, texturing, and scene composition.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender).
• Expertise in texturing and material creation using software like Substance Painter, Substance Designer, and Photoshop.
• Experience working with modern game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their environment creation tools.
• Solid understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows.
• Knowledge of lighting, shaders, and post-processing effects.
• Excellent artistic fundamentals, including composition, color theory, and form.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in Randburg, Gauteng or ability to commute for hybrid requirements.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to work on exciting, next-generation projects. You will join a collaborative and innovative team in Randburg, Gauteng , contributing to the creation of immersive virtual worlds. The hybrid work model supports a healthy work-life balance, blending productive in-office collaboration with remote work flexibility.