Senior Character Artist & Modeler

Placements24; United States; Remote; USD 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental and vision insurance

Career development opportunities

Creative studio environment in Paarl

Job summary

Placements24 client is seeking a Senior Character Artist & Modeler to join their artistic hub in Paarl, Western Cape. You will sculpt, model, texture, and optimize high‑quality characters for upcoming titles, working with concept artists, riggers and animators to realize designs in the engine.

The ideal candidate has deep anatomy knowledge, strong portfolio, and proficiency in Maya/ZBrush/Blender, Substance Painter, and real‑time pipelines in Unreal or Unity.

Qualifications

• Portfolio shows high‑poly character modeling and texturing for games.
• Strong anatomy, proportions and form understanding.
• Experience translating 2D concepts into 3D characters.

Responsibilities

• Create high‑fidelity character models from sculpt to game‑ready assets.
• Texture, material and shader development for characters.
• Translate 2D art into 3D models in collaboration with artists.
• Optimize models for real‑time rendering and animation.
• Iterate based on art direction and feedback from leads.
• Maintain consistency and quality across character assets.
• Stay updated on industry tools and techniques.
• Mentor junior artists and contribute to team growth.
• Ensure assets meet performance budgets for platforms.

Skills

Character Artist

3D Modeling

Texturing

Maya

ZBrush

Blender

Substance Painter

Unreal Engine

Unity

UV Mapping

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

Blender

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Quixel Mixer

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a celebrated developer of visually rich and engaging games, is looking for a talented Senior Character Artist & Modeler to join their artistic hub in Paarl, Western Cape . This role is essential for bringing the diverse cast of characters in our games to life with exceptional detail, realism, and artistic flair. You will be responsible for sculpting, modeling, texturing, and optimizing high-quality characters for our upcoming titles. This position demands a strong foundation in traditional art principles, combined with expertise in modern 3D modeling and texturing software. You will work collaboratively with concept artists, riggers, and animators to ensure character designs are translated effectively into the game engine. We are seeking a passionate artist with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of anatomy and form.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-fidelity character models, from sculpting high-poly details to optimizing low-poly game-ready assets.
• Develop realistic and stylistically appropriate textures, materials, and shaders for characters.
• Collaborate with concept artists to interpret and translate 2D character designs into 3D models.
• Work closely with technical artists and riggers to ensure character models are well-optimized for deformation and animation.
• Apply feedback from art directors and leads to iterate on character models and textures.
• Maintain a high standard of quality and consistency across all character assets.
• Stay current with industry trends, tools, and techniques in character art production.
• Mentor junior character artists and contribute to the team's technical and artistic growth.
• Ensure character assets meet technical constraints and performance budgets for target platforms.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry, with a portfolio showcasing exceptional character modeling and texturing skills.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling and sculpting software (e.g., Maya, ZBrush, Blender).
• Expertise in texturing software such as Substance Painter, Photoshop, and Quixel Mixer.
• Strong understanding of human and creature anatomy, proportions, and form.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and PBR workflows.
• Ability to create efficient UV layouts and optimize models for real-time rendering.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to receive and provide constructive criticism.
• A passion for character design and a commitment to artistic excellence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Opportunity to work on exciting and visually diverse game projects.
• Access to state-of-the-art 3D art tools and hardware.
• A creative, collaborative, and supportive studio environment in Paarl, Western Cape .
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.