Senior 3D Environment Artist

Placements24; Richards Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Health and wellness benefits

Generous paid time off

Hybrid work model

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal is seeking a Senior 3D Environment Artist to craft immersive game worlds, from block-out to lighting and optimization.

You will build modular environments, create high-fidelity textures, and collaborate with designers to ensure art direction aligns with gameplay. The role requires a strong portfolio and 4+ years in game dev, with Maya/Blender, Substance Painter, and Unreal/Unity proficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience as a 3D Environment Artist.
• Strong proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing with PBR workflows.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity and environment creation tools.
• Excellent communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Model, texture, and integrate high-quality 3D environment assets.
• Develop modular environment kits and props for efficient level construction.
• Collaborate with level designers to ensure aesthetic and functional coherence.
• Implement PBR materials and maintain art direction consistency.
• Optimize environment assets for performance across target platforms.
• Light environments to enhance mood and gameplay clarity.
• Create set dressing elements to add detail and realism.
• Contribute to established pipelines and mentor juniors.

Skills

Artistic eye

Lighting & color theory

Team collaboration

Education

4+ years in game environment art

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

ZBrush

Substance Painter

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a respected game development studio based in **Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal**, is seeking a talented Senior 3D Environment Artist to contribute to the creation of breathtaking virtual worlds. This role is essential for building immersive and visually stunning game environments that captivate players. You will be responsible for the end-to-end creation of environment assets, from initial block-out and modeling to texturing, lighting, and optimization. The ideal candidate possesses a keen artistic eye, exceptional technical skills in 3D modeling and texturing, and a deep understanding of PBR workflows and game engine capabilities. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing team and play a key role in shaping the visual identity of our upcoming titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Model, texture, and integrate high-quality 3D environment assets.
• Develop modular environment kits and props for efficient level construction.
• Collaborate with level designers to bring environments to life, ensuring aesthetic and functional coherence.
• Implement PBR materials and ensure visual consistency with project art direction.
• Optimize environment assets for performance across target platforms.
• Light environments to enhance mood, atmosphere, and gameplay clarity.
• Create set dressing elements to add detail and realism to environments.
• Work within established art pipelines and contribute to their improvement.
• Provide guidance and feedback to junior environment artists.

Requirements

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience as a 3D Environment Artist in the game industry.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and sculpting tools (e.g., ZBrush).
• Expertise in texturing software (e.g., Substance Painter, Photoshop) and PBR workflows.
• Strong understanding of game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their environment creation tools.
• Excellent understanding of architectural forms, natural elements, and scene composition.
• Ability to create both organic and hard-surface environment assets.
• Strong artistic fundamentals, including lighting, color theory, and composition.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Portfolio showcasing high-quality game environment art.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous paid time off and leave opportunities.
• Opportunities for professional growth and learning.
• A creative and collaborative studio environment in **Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal**.
• Access to modern hardware and software.
• Hybrid work model to promote work-life balance.
• Team events and a supportive workplace culture.