Lead Character Artist (3D)

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical and dental benefits

Retirement savings plan

Performance-based bonuses

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, seeks a Lead Character Artist to guide a team in creating high-fidelity character models for AAA game titles. You will oversee production, maintain artistic consistency, and collaborate with art directors and engineers to push the boundaries of technology.

You will mentor artists, drive the character pipeline, and ensure top-tier quality while staying current with industry trends and tools.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in 3D character art for video games
• 3 shipped AAA titles in a lead or senior role
• Proven experience leading and mentoring art teams
• Strong understanding of human/creature anatomy, form, silhouette and color theory
• Experience with PBR workflows and realistic material creation
• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, 3D Animation, or related field or equivalent professional experience

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of character artists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Oversee the entire character art production pipeline, from concept to final implementation in the game engine.
• Ensure artistic quality and technical consistency of all character assets, adhering to established art direction and style guides.
• Create exemplary character models (high and low poly), textures, and materials that meet the highest industry standards.
• Collaborate with art director, game designers, and technical artists to define character requirements and visual targets.
• Establish and maintain best practices for asset creation, naming conventions, and file management.
• Conduct regular reviews of character art, providing constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Stay updated on latest trends and technologies in character modeling, texturing, and rendering.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to character asset implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentoring

Art direction collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, 3D Animation, or related field

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious game development studio recognized globally for its compelling character designs and immersive worlds, is seeking a Lead Character Artist to join their talented team in **Bloemfontein, Free State**. This senior role requires an exceptional artist with proven leadership capabilities, responsible for overseeing the creation of high-fidelity, compelling character models that define our game's aesthetic. You will guide a team of character artists, ensuring artistic consistency, pushing the boundaries of character creation technology, and collaborating closely with the art director and technical teams. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of anatomy, form, proportion, and advanced sculpting, texturing, and rendering techniques. Join us in **Bloemfontein** and play a key role in bringing unforgettable characters to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of character artists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.


• Oversee the entire character art production pipeline, from concept to final implementation in the game engine.


• Ensure the artistic quality and technical consistency of all character assets, adhering to established art direction and style guides.


• Create exemplary character models (high and low poly), textures, and materials that meet the highest industry standards.


• Collaborate closely with the art director, game designers, and technical artists to define character requirements and visual targets.


• Establish and maintain best practices for character asset creation, naming conventions, and file management.


• Conduct regular reviews of character art, providing constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to quality standards.


• Stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in character modeling, texturing, and rendering.


• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to character asset implementation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in 3D character art for video games, with at least 3 shipped AAA titles in a lead or senior role.


• Proven experience leading and mentoring art teams.


• Expert proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, ZBrush), texturing software (e.g., Substance Painter, Photoshop), and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).


• Strong understanding of human/creature anatomy, form, silhouette, and color theory.


• Experience with PBR workflows and realistic material creation.


• Knowledge of rigging and skinning principles is a plus.


• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills required for working within the **Bloemfontein, Free State** team.


• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional character art and leadership capabilities.


• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, 3D Animation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client provides a competitive salary, extensive medical and dental benefits, a generous retirement savings plan, performance-based bonuses, and opportunities for professional development.

We offer a creative and supportive work atmosphere in **Bloemfontein** where artistic talent thrives and innovation is encouraged.