Lead Character Artist

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Training budget

Conference attendance

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Character Artist in Pretoria to guide a team in producing high-quality, real-time character models, textures and materials for upcoming projects. You will set artistic direction, ensure consistency across assets, and collaborate with art directors and leads to shape the game's visual language.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of 3D character art experience, a strong portfolio, and leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in 3D character art for games, with 3+ years in lead roles.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-quality real-time character models, textures and materials.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D tools and game engines; strong understanding of anatomy and silhouette.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of character artists; provide direction and feedback.
• Oversee character art pipeline from concept to engine implementation.
• Create high-fidelity character models, textures and materials aligned with art style.
• Collaborate with concept artists, riggers, animators and technical artists.
• Establish and maintain character art style guides and specs.
• Manage schedules and workload to ensure timely asset delivery.
• Conduct regular reviews and provide actionable feedback.
• Stay current with industry trends, tools and techniques.
• Contribute to character concept development and problem-solving.

Skills

Leadership

Character art

Art direction

PBR workflows

Maya

ZBrush

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Unreal Engine

Unity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts/Digital Art/related

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and innovative game studio based in Pretoria, Gauteng , is seeking an exceptional Lead Character Artist to guide their character art team. This leadership position involves overseeing the creation of high-quality character models, textures, and materials for their upcoming titles. You will play a key role in defining the artistic style and ensuring the visual consistency of all character assets, working closely with the art director and other department leads. The ideal candidate is a master of character creation pipelines, possesses excellent leadership qualities, and has a passion for bringing compelling characters to life. This is a prime opportunity to influence the visual direction of exciting new projects in Pretoria .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of character artists, providing clear direction and constructive feedback.
• Oversee the entire character art production pipeline, from concept to final implementation in the game engine.
• Ensure the creation of high-fidelity, aesthetically compelling character models that align with the project's art style.
• Collaborate with concept artists, riggers, animators, and technical artists to achieve desired character performance.
• Establish and maintain character art style guides and technical specifications.
• Manage team schedules and workload to ensure timely delivery of assets.
• Conduct regular reviews of character art assets and provide actionable feedback.
• Stay current with the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques in character art and 3D modeling.
• Contribute to character concept development and artistic problem-solving.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in 3D character art for video games, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior capacity.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality character models, textures, and materials for real-time applications.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max) and texturing tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Photoshop).
• Deep understanding of anatomy, form, proportion, and silhouette in character design.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their art pipelines.
• Strong understanding of PBR workflows and material creation.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team management skills.
• Ability to effectively manage priorities and meet project deadlines.
• Experience with character rigging and skinning is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Digital Art, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, commensurate with experience and leadership skills. The benefits include comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as a retirement savings plan. We provide ample opportunities for professional development, including training budgets and conference attendance. The work environment is collaborative and creative, situated in Pretoria . This role offers a hybrid work model, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.