Lead Character Artist - Hybrid, Creative Studio Leader

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Health insurance

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Character Artist in Nelspruit to guide the character art team, defining visual style and ensuring high-quality character execution. You will mentor artists and collaborate with designers and animators to fit gameplay needs.

The role requires 6+ years in game character art, leadership experience, and expertise in ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, and Photoshop. A hybrid work setup and a collaborative studio culture are offered in Nelspruit.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in character art for games with leadership experience.
• Expert proficiency in 3D modeling and sculpting software (ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max).
• Strong skills in PBR texturing and material creation (Substance Painter, Photoshop).
• Solid understanding of character rigging, animation, and engine integration.
• Excellent eye for detail and ability to guide artistic vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of character artists throughout the production cycle.
• Create high-quality 3D character models, sculpting, retopology, texturing, and PBR materials.
• Establish and maintain character art style guides for consistency across characters.
• Collaborate with designers and animators to ensure characters fit gameplay requirements.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on character assets.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentoring

Artistic direction

Character art

Tools

ZBrush

Maya

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Lead Character Artist in Nelspruit to guide the character art team, defining visual style and ensuring high-quality character execution. You will mentor artists and collaborate with designers and animators to fit gameplay needs.

The role requires 6+ years in game character art, leadership experience, and expertise in ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, and Photoshop. A hybrid work setup and a collaborative studio culture are offered in Nelspruit.