Lead Character Artist

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous vacation and holidays

Career development opportunities

Hybrid work arrangement

Access to cutting-edge tools

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking an experienced Lead Character Artist to guide a team in creating high-quality character models, textures, and rigs for our narrative-driven games. You will shape the visual identity of beloved in-game characters and mentor artists to reach excellence.

The role combines hands-on artistry with leadership in a hybrid work setup, offering collaboration in-office and remote flexibility within a creative studio environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in character art for video games.
• At least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing character modeling and texturing.
• Proficiency in ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop.
• Experience with real-time rendering in Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Understanding of rigging and skinning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of character artists throughout the character creation pipeline.
• Define and maintain the artistic quality and style for all in-game characters.
• Oversee high-poly sculpts, low-poly models, UV unwrapping, texturing, and rigging.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to align with vision and narrative.
• Provide constructive feedback to artists to maintain high standards.
• Ensure character assets are optimized for engine performance and memory constraints.
• Develop and refine character art pipelines and best practices.
• Stay updated on trends and technologies in character art.

Skills

Character art leadership

Team leadership

Character modeling

Texturing

ZBrush

Maya

Substance Painter/Designer

Photoshop

Unreal Engine/Unity

Tools

ZBrush

Maya

Substance Painter/Designer

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a celebrated developer of narrative-driven games, is seeking an experienced Lead Character Artist to join their creative powerhouse in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. This role is pivotal in defining the visual identity of characters that resonate with players worldwide. You will lead a team of talented character artists, guiding them in the creation of high-quality, memorable character models, textures, and rigs. If you possess a keen eye for anatomy, a deep understanding of character design, and a proven ability to inspire and manage a team, this is an exceptional opportunity to shape unforgettable characters from our Stellenbosch, Western Cape studio. The position offers a hybrid work model, blending collaborative office time with remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of character artists throughout the character creation pipeline.
• Define and maintain the artistic quality and style for all in-game characters.
• Oversee the creation of high-poly sculpts, low-poly models, UV unwrapping, texturing, and rigging.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to ensure characters align with the game's vision and narrative.
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to artists, ensuring high standards are met.
• Ensure character assets are optimized for engine performance and memory constraints.
• Develop and refine character art pipelines and best practices.
• Stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in character art.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in character art for video games, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character modeling, texturing, and understanding of anatomy and form.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop.
• Experience with real-time character rendering in game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Understanding of rigging and skinning processes is highly beneficial.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and creative team environment.
• Experience working in Stellenbosch, Western Cape or similar creative hubs is an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and potential for bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid vacation and company holidays.
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• Join a creative and passionate team in the beautiful Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies.
• Hybrid work arrangement to support work-life balance.