Lead 3D Character Artist

Stardock is seeking an experienced Lead 3D Character Artist to collaborate with our existing team on creating highly detailed and semi-stylized characters, animals, creatures, and monsters for an upcoming game title. The ideal candidate possesses strong collaborative skills, an artistic eye, and is comfortable learning new technology. Experience working with Unreal Engine 5, cloth physics, and hair and fur (alpha cards) for games is highly preferred. This is a salaried, full-time position reporting to our Plymouth, Michigan studio. This position is open to remote and hybrid applicants.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Produce high-quality character game assets according to art direction, design specs, and technical requirements.
• Create highly detailed semi-stylized humans, animals, creatures, and monsters.
• Create consistent, stylized 3D assets using Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Unreal Engine 5.
• Complete 3D art on schedule with project milestones.
• Collaborate cross-discipline to continually ensure project visuals and improve upon our custom workflows and technology.
• Set up quality specs for asset creation and establish art pipelines and documentation in collaboration with the Art Lead, the Lead Animator, and the Art Director.
• Mentor entry-level and mid-level Artists when needed.

Education and/or Experience Desired:

• 7+ years professional experience making character assets for games as displayed in a visual portfolio.
• Proficient with standard industry tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
• Strong grasp of topology, material properties, color, form, anatomy, and motion.
• Experience with making assets for character creators and procedural systems.
• Well-developed communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills.
• Experience working with game engines – Unreal Engine 5 is preferred.
• Experience working with Houdini and Marvelous Designer is a plus.
• Experience with rigging and animation is preferred.