Senior Character Artist

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Performance bonus

Profit sharing

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng seeks a Senior Character Artist to create high-quality 3D character models, textures, and possibly some rigging for AAA game titles. You will collaborate with directors and artists to ensure art aligns with the game's vision and engine pipelines.

The candidate brings mastery of anatomy, form, and texture work, with proficiency in Maya/ZBrush/Blender and Substance Painter/Designer, and a strong portfolio demonstrating character art for games.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional 3D character art for games.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in character art for games.
• Expert proficiency in 3D modeling software (Maya, ZBrush, Blender).
• Advanced skills in texturing and material creation (Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop).
• Experience with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their rendering pipelines.
• Familiarity with rigging and skinning is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D character models (high-poly sculpts, low-poly retopology, UV mapping).
• Develop realistic or stylized textures and materials.
• Collaborate with art directors, concept artists, and technical artists to meet specs.
• Optimize character models and textures for real-time performance in game engines.
• Potentially assist with character rigging and skinning.
• Maintain consistency in art style and quality across assets.
• Stay updated on industry trends and techniques.
• Provide feedback in art reviews and ensure seamless asset integration.

Skills

3D modeling

Anatomy

Poly/Retopology

UV Mapping

Texturing

Substance Painter/Designer

Photoshop

Maya

ZBrush

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Rigging

Portfolio

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts / Digital Art / Game Design

Tools

Maya

ZBrush

Blender

Substance Painter/Designer

Photoshop

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned game development studio celebrated for its visually stunning and character-driven titles, is seeking an exceptional Senior Character Artist to join their talented team in Vereeniging, Gauteng. This role is instrumental in bringing memorable characters to life, from initial concept to final in-game implementation. You will be responsible for creating high-quality 3D character models, textures, and potentially some rigging, ensuring they align with the game's artistic vision and technical requirements. The ideal candidate possesses a masterful understanding of anatomy, form, and artistic techniques, coupled with proficiency in industry-standard software and a keen eye for detail. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute your skills to exciting AAA projects and collaborate with a passionate and experienced art team. We are looking for an artist who can inspire and guide others while producing top-tier character art.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D character models, including high-poly sculpts, low-poly retopology, and UV mapping.
• Develop realistic or stylized textures and materials using various painting and texturing techniques.
• Collaborate with art directors, concept artists, and technical artists to ensure character designs meet artistic and technical specifications.
• Optimize character models and textures for real-time performance in game engines.
• Potentially assist with character rigging and skinning, ensuring proper deformation.
• Maintain consistency in art style and quality across all character assets.
• Stay updated on the latest character art techniques, tools, and industry trends.
• Provide constructive feedback to other artists and participate in art reviews.
• Ensure efficient workflow and asset integration into the game engine.
• Contribute to the overall visual storytelling and appeal of the game through compelling character designs.

Requirements

• A robust portfolio showcasing exceptional 3D character art for video games, demonstrating a strong understanding of form, anatomy, and detail.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in character art for games.
• Expert proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, ZBrush, Blender).
• Advanced skills in texturing and material creation using software like Substance Painter/Designer and Photoshop.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and understanding their rendering pipelines.
• Familiarity with rigging and skinning processes is a plus.
• Strong understanding of artistic principles, including anatomy, proportion, color theory, and silhouette.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work effectively under deadlines.
• A degree in Fine Arts, Digital Art, Game Design, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, a performance bonus, and a profit-sharing program.
• Employees benefit from a creative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to work on exciting AAA game titles.
• The role is located in Vereeniging, Gauteng, providing access to a thriving metropolitan area.
• We value work-life balance and offer flexible work arrangements.
• Join a team that is passionate about creating unforgettable characters and experiences.