Senior 3D Environment Artist

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 650,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

High-profile game projects

State-of-the-art tools

George location advantage

Medical aid and retirement fund

Generous annual leave and sick days

Professional growth opportunities

International travel opportunities

Team-building events

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior 3D Environment Artist to join their George-based team. You will lead end-to-end creation of environmental assets, collaborating with art directors and design leads to ensure cohesive visuals and immersive worlds.

You will demonstrate a strong portfolio of environments, proficiency in industry tools (Maya/Blender, ZBrush, Substance, Unreal/Unity) and the ability to optimize for performance while preserving visual fidelity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience as a 3D Environment Artist in games, with at least two shipped titles in a senior role.
• Portfolio showcasing realistic or stylized environments with strong modeling, texturing and lighting.
• Proficiency in Maya, 3ds Max or Blender and sculpting tools like ZBrush or Mudbox.
• Texturing expertise in Substance Painter/Designer and Photoshop.
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine or Unity and environment creation tools.
• Knowledge of photogrammetry is a plus.
• Excellent art fundamentals and ability to interpret concept art and technical specs.
• Strong communication and ability to work in remote or hybrid teams.

Responsibilities

• Model, sculpt, texture, and optimize high-quality 3D environment assets including props and terrain.
• Assemble complex environments within the game engine adhering to art direction.
• Develop realistic or stylized PBR materials for environment elements.
• Create tileable textures, decals, and shaders to enhance scene detail.
• Implement lighting and post-processing to achieve mood and fidelity.
• Collaborate to maintain art pipelines, budgets, and best practices.
• Identify and resolve visual or technical issues in environments.
• Participate in art reviews and take direction from leads.
• Maintain understanding of architectural styles, natural forms, and historical periods.
• Optimize assets for performance across target platforms while preserving quality.

Skills

Senior 3D Environment Artist

Portfolio of environments

Remote/hybrid collaboration

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

ZBrush

Mudbox

Substance Painter

Substance Designer

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Photogrammetry

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned developer of visually stunning virtual worlds, is seeking an accomplished Senior 3D Environment Artist to join their creative hub in George, Western Cape. This role is crucial for bringing our game worlds to life with breathtaking detail, compelling architecture, and atmospheric immersion. You will be responsible for the end-to-end creation of environmental assets, working closely with the art director and level design teams to ensure visual consistency and artistic integrity. We are looking for an individual with a keen eye for detail, a passion for world-building, and a proven ability to deliver high-quality work in a collaborative studio environment. The successful candidate will contribute significantly to the aesthetic vision and technical execution of our projects, making a tangible impact on the player's visual journey within the game. Join us in George and help craft unforgettable visual experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Model, sculpt, texture, and optimize high-quality 3D environment assets, including props, foliage, buildings, and terrain features.


• Construct and assemble complex environments within the game engine, ensuring adherence to level design blockouts and art direction.


• Develop and apply realistic or stylized PBR materials and textures for various environmental elements.


• Create tileable textures, decals, and shaders to enhance scene detail and variety.


• Implement lighting and post-processing effects to achieve desired mood, atmosphere, and visual fidelity.


• Collaborate with technical artists to establish and maintain art pipelines, performance budgets, and best practices.


• Proactively identify and resolve visual or technical issues within environments.


• Participate in art reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers and receiving direction from leads.


• Maintain a strong understanding of architectural styles, natural forms, and historical periods relevant to project themes.


• Optimize assets and scenes for performance across target platforms while maintaining visual quality.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a 3D Environment Artist in the games industry, with at least two shipped titles in a senior capacity.


• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional skill in creating realistic or stylized environments, showcasing strong modeling, texturing, and lighting abilities.


• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and sculpting tools (e.g., ZBrush, Mudbox).


• Expertise in texturing software such as Substance Painter, Substance Designer, and Photoshop.


• Strong understanding of game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their environment creation tools.


• Knowledge of photogrammetry workflows and asset creation from scans is a plus.


• Excellent grasp of art fundamentals, including composition, color theory, and form.


• Ability to interpret concept art and technical specifications to produce high-fidelity assets.


• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote or hybrid team structure.


• Experience based in or understanding of the creative sector in the Western Cape is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.


• Opportunity to work on exciting, high-profile game projects.


• Access to state-of-the-art tools and technology.


• A collaborative and inspiring work environment in beautiful George.


• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund contributions.


• Generous annual leave and paid sick days.


• Professional growth and learning opportunities, including workshops and conferences.


• Potential for international travel for industry events.


• Team-building events and social activities.