Lead Character Modeler

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical & dental insurance

Generous leave

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Team events

Top-tier hardware

Mossel Bay studio

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, is seeking an accomplished Lead Character Modeler to lead a studio's character art. You will mentor modelers, set art direction, and ensure high-fidelity character models integrate smoothly with the game engine.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in game character modeling, hands-on expertise in Maya, ZBrush, and texturing tools, plus leadership experience and a strong portfolio.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years in 3D character modeling for games, with at least 2 years in a lead role.
• Expertise in Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max and texturing tools like Substance Painter and Photoshop.
• Strong understanding of human and creature anatomy, proportion and form.
• Proficiency in creating clean topology and efficient UV layouts.
• Experience with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and character pipelines.
• Excellent artistic eye and a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character modeling work.
• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with rigging and animation principles is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of character modelers, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality 3D character models, ensuring they meet aesthetic and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain character art style guides and workflows.
• Sculpt, model, and texture realistic and stylized characters for games.
• Collaborate closely with concept artists, animators, and technical artists to ensure character vision is realized.
• Optimize character models for performance across various platforms.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on character assets created by the team.
• Stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies in character modeling and game art.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to character model creation and implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Character modeling

Anatomy knowledge

Topology & UVs

Game engines (Unreal/Unity)

Communication & collaboration

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Photoshop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a celebrated developer of visually rich interactive experiences, is looking for an accomplished Lead Character Modeler to join their prestigious studio in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. This role is paramount in shaping the visual identity of our characters, guiding the team to produce high-fidelity, artistically compelling character models that embody the game's vision. You will be responsible for setting the standard for character art, mentoring modelers, and ensuring seamless integration of characters into the game engine. The ideal candidate is a master of 3D character creation, possesses strong leadership qualities, and has a deep understanding of anatomy, form, and artistic style within the gaming context. This is a unique opportunity to lead character art direction for ambitious projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of character modelers, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.


• Oversee the creation of high-quality 3D character models, ensuring they meet aesthetic and technical requirements.


• Develop and maintain character art style guides and workflows.


• Sculpt, model, and texture realistic and stylized characters for games.


• Collaborate closely with concept artists, animators, and technical artists to ensure character vision is realized.


• Optimize character models for performance across various platforms.


• Review and provide constructive feedback on character assets created by the team.


• Stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies in character modeling and game art.


• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to character model creation and implementation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in 3D character modeling for video games, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.


• Expertise in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max) and texturing tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Photoshop).


• Strong understanding of human and creature anatomy, proportion, and form.


• Proficiency in creating clean topology and efficient UV layouts.


• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and character pipelines.


• Excellent artistic eye and a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional character modeling work.


• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities.


• Strong communication and collaboration skills.


• Familiarity with rigging and animation principles is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.


• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans.


• Generous annual leave and paid holidays.


• Opportunities for professional development and attending industry conferences.


• A vibrant and creative studio environment located in Mossel Bay, Western Cape.


• Relocation assistance for qualified candidates.


• Regular team social events and a positive work culture.


• Access to top-tier hardware and software for creative work.