Senior Character Artist (Realism Focus)

Placements24; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Randburg, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Character Artist to create believable, high-quality characters for a flagship title. You will own the full character pipeline—from sculpting high-poly models in ZBrush to creating textures with Substance Painter and preparing assets for game engines.

You will collaborate with art directors and animators, leveraging anatomy expertise and advanced texturing skills to push visual fidelity in real-time engines. On-site work in Randburg is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry with a portfolio of realistic characters.
• Expertise in 3D sculpting using ZBrush and high-poly workflow.
• Proficient in realistic texturing and material creation using Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Photoshop, and Mari.
• Strong understanding of human anatomy, form, and proportion.
• Experience with real-time game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and asset integration.
• Ability to create clean topology and optimized UV layouts.
• Experience with rigging and skinning processes and collaboration with animators.
• Excellent attention to detail, realism, and artistic quality.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Sculpt high-poly character models in ZBrush with anatomical accuracy.
• Create high-quality textures and materials in Substance Painter, Mari, and Photoshop.
• Retopologize models for real-time performance and layout UVs efficiently.
• Rig and skin characters for animation in collaboration with the animation team.
• Integrate character assets into Unreal Engine or Unity, ensuring fidelity and performance.
• Collaborate with art directors and supervisors to achieve the desired style.
• Stay updated on industry trends and improve techniques, mentoring juniors.

Skills

Anatomy knowledge

Artistic talent

Teamwork

Communication

Familiarity with real-time engines

Tools

ZBrush

Substance Painter

Mari

Photoshop

Substance Designer

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading game development studio situated in the bustling urban center of Randburg, Gauteng , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Character Artist with a specialization in creating realistic characters. This role is pivotal in bringing believable and compelling characters to life for our next flagship title. You will be responsible for the entire character creation pipeline, from sculpting high-poly models and creating detailed textures to ensuring seamless integration into the game engine. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional artistic talent, a deep understanding of human anatomy, and mastery of industry-standard tools. Join our creative team in Randburg and contribute to building unforgettable characters.

Key Responsibilities

• Sculpt high-poly character models using software like ZBrush, ensuring anatomical accuracy and realistic detail.
• Create high-quality, realistic textures and materials using tools such as Substance Painter, Mari, and Photoshop.
• Retopologize models for optimal performance in real-time engines, focusing on efficient polygon count and UV layout.
• Create detailed UV layouts for character assets.
• Rig and skin characters for animation, collaborating with animators to ensure proper deformation.
• Implement character assets into game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), ensuring visual fidelity and technical compliance.
• Collaborate with art directors and character supervisors to achieve the desired artistic vision and style.
• Stay updated on the latest trends and techniques in character art and realistic rendering.
• Provide feedback and guidance to junior character artists.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry, with a portfolio showcasing realistic characters.
• Expertise in 3D sculpting software (ZBrush).
• Proficiency in texturing and material creation tools (Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Photoshop, Mari).
• Strong understanding of human anatomy, form, and proportion.
• Experience with real-time game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and integrating character assets.
• Proficiency in creating clean topology and optimized UV layouts.
• Familiarity with rigging and skinning processes.
• Excellent eye for detail, realism, and artistic quality.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa .

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pension fund and life insurance benefits.
• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.
• Access to high-end workstations and cutting-edge software.
• A collaborative and inspiring studio environment in Gauteng .
• Regular team events and social gatherings.