Senior Character Artist

Placements24; United States; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Character Artist to lead the creation of detailed, expressive characters for cutting-edge games. You will sculpt, texture, and optimize assets for modern game engines, collaborating with directors and technical artists to bring designs to life.

You will mentor junior artists, stay current with industry trends, and ensure assets meet performance requirements while delivering high-quality visuals across both realistic and stylized styles.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in 3D character art for video games.
• Portfolio demonstrating character modeling, sculpting, texturing, and PBR workflows.
• Proficiency in ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter and Photoshop.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Strong understanding of human and creature anatomy, form, and silhouette.
• Ability to create realistic and stylized characters.
• Excellent attention to detail and quality.
• Strong communication and collaboration in a hybrid team.
• Experience with character rigging is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and manage time.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D character models, including sculpting, retopology, UV mapping, texturing and PBR materials.
• Collaborate with concept artists, art directors, and technical artists to realize designs.
• Ensure assets meet engine performance targets.
• Implement characters in the engine, set up materials and visuals.
• Maintain artistic quality and consistency across assets.
• Mentor junior character artists with feedback.
• Stay updated on latest character art techniques and tools.
• Participate in art reviews and contribute to project vision.
• Troubleshoot character art issues throughout production.
• Push boundaries of character artistry in real-time environments.

Skills

Character modeling

Sculpting

Texturing

PBR workflows

Unreal Engine

Unity

Anatomy knowledge

Time management

Hybrid collaboration

Rigging

Tools

ZBrush

Maya

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a critically acclaimed studio known for its highly detailed and character-driven games. We are seeking an exceptionally skilled Senior Character Artist to join our talented team in Klerksdorp . This role is integral to bringing our game worlds to life through the creation of compelling and visually stunning characters. You will be responsible for the complete character art pipeline, from initial concept sculpting to final in-game asset creation, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and artistic integrity. This hybrid position allows for focused individual work remotely and collaborative team sessions on-site. We are looking for an artist with a deep understanding of anatomy, form, and proportion, combined with expertise in modern 3D character art techniques. If you are passionate about character design and possess a portfolio that showcases your mastery, we invite you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D character models, including sculpting, retopology, UV mapping, texturing, and PBR material creation.
• Collaborate closely with concept artists, art directors, and technical artists to realize character designs.
• Ensure character assets meet technical requirements and performance targets for game engines.
• Implement characters into the game engine, setting up materials and ensuring accurate visual representation.
• Maintain a high level of artistic quality and consistency across all character assets.
• Mentor junior character artists, providing guidance and feedback.
• Stay current with the latest character art techniques, software, and industry trends.
• Participate in art reviews and contribute to the overall artistic vision of the project.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any character art-related issues throughout the production pipeline.
• Push the boundaries of character artistry in real-time environments.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in 3D character art for video games.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional skill in character modeling, sculpting, texturing, and PBR workflows.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Solid understanding of human and creature anatomy, form, and silhouette.
• Ability to create realistic and stylized characters.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, able to work effectively in a hybrid team.
• Experience with character rigging and animation pipelines is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive compensation package and a supportive work environment in Klerksdorp . Benefits include comprehensive health insurance, retirement savings plan, and generous paid time off. We provide opportunities for professional growth through training and workshops. This hybrid role offers a balance between remote flexibility and essential in-office collaboration, fostering team cohesion and innovation. Join us and contribute to the creation of unforgettable characters that drive immersive gaming experiences.

• comprehensive health insurance
• retirement savings plan
• generous paid time off