Senior 3D Environment Artist (Level Design Focus)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health coverage

Bonuses

Generous paid time off

Home office equipment stipend

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior 3D Environment Artist with a strong emphasis on level design to join a fully remote game studio. You will shape player experience by building immersive environments from blockouts to final assets, while optimizing for performance and gameplay flow.

You should bring 5+ years in game environment art, a robust portfolio, and proficiency in Maya/Blender/Max, Substance Painter, Quixel, and Unreal or Unity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in 3D environment art for games with level design considerations.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating environmental art and level design for games.
• Proficiency in 3D modelling tools (Maya/Blender/3ds Max) and PBR texturing (Substance/Quixel).
• Experience with at least one major engine (Unreal/Unity) and level editing tools.
• Solid understanding of composition, color, lighting, and architectural principles in games.

Responsibilities

• Design and build high-quality 3D game environments prioritizing visual fidelity and gameplay flow.
• Create blockouts, greyboxes, and final assets including props, structures, and terrain.
• Implement and optimize environments in the game engine.
• Develop efficient level layouts supporting engaging gameplay and exploration.
• Collaborate with designers, level artists, and tech artists to realize the artistic vision.
• Master PBR textures, materials, and shader workflows; conduct lighting and atmosphere passes.
• Optimize environments for real-time performance across targets.
• Contribute to style guides and environment art best practices.
• Mentor junior environment artists and provide feedback.
• Maintain consistency with project art direction.

Skills

5+ years experience

Strong portfolio

Remote collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Game Art / related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Quixel

Unreal Engine

Unity

ZBrush

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly acclaimed independent game studio known for its visually stunning and immersive worlds, is looking for a talented Senior 3D Environment Artist with a strong focus on level design to join their completely remote team. This role is critical in shaping the player's experience by creating compelling, memorable, and functional game environments. You will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of environment creation, from initial blockouts and greyboxing to final art asset implementation and optimization, all within a collaborative, distributed workflow. As a remote-first company, we utilize cutting-edge collaboration tools to ensure seamless communication and creative synergy across our globally dispersed team. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned artist who excels in both aesthetic detail and gameplay-oriented spatial design, contributing to a highly anticipated project from the convenience of their home office. If you are passionate about building believable worlds that are as fun to navigate as they are beautiful to behold, this is the role for you. Embrace the freedom and flexibility of a truly remote role while making a significant impact on player engagement and exploration.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build high-quality 3D game environments, focusing on both visual fidelity and gameplay flow.
• Create detailed blockouts, greyboxes, and final art assets for environments, including props, structures, and terrain.
• Implement and optimize environment assets within the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Develop and maintain efficient level layouts that support engaging gameplay mechanics and exploration.
• Collaborate with game designers, level artists, and technical artists to realize the artistic vision for game worlds.
• Master PBR texturing workflows, material creation, and shader implementation for environments.
• Conduct lighting passes and atmospheric effects to enhance mood and realism.
• Optimize environments for performance across various target platforms.
• Contribute to the development of style guides and best practices for environment art.
• Mentor junior environment artists and provide constructive feedback.
• Maintain consistent quality and adherence to project art direction.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in 3D environment art for video games, with a significant portion dedicated to level design considerations.
• A robust portfolio showcasing exceptional environmental art and level design skills for games.
• Expertise in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max) and PBR texturing tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Quixel).
• Proficiency in at least one major game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and its level editing tools.
• Strong understanding of composition, color theory, lighting, and architectural principles in a game context.
• Experience with performance optimization techniques for real-time rendering.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, essential for effective collaboration in a remote setting.
• Familiarity with sculpting software (e.g., ZBrush) is a plus.
• A degree in Game Art, Digital Art, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a distributed team.

Benefits

This position offers the ultimate flexibility with a fully remote work arrangement.

• competitive salary
• comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• performance bonuses
• generous paid time off
• professional development budget

Our client fosters a supportive, inclusive, and creative remote culture. You'll have the opportunity to work on exciting, innovative projects with a passionate team, contributing to a company that values work-life balance and employee growth. Home office equipment stipends are also provided.