As a Lead or Principal 3D Artist, you will own the vision, execution, and leadership of the 3D modeling discipline across the game or project. You'll set visual and technical standards, manage the modeling team, and work cross-functionally with art, design, and engineering departments to ensure all assets align with the project's artistic and gameplay goals.
Define and uphold the visual quality bar for all 3D assets across characters, environments, props, and vehicles.
Lead and mentor a team of 3D artists, providing daily feedback, performance reviews, and career development support.
Collaborate closely with Art Directors, Technical Artists, Animators, and Production Leads to ensure alignment between artistic vision and technical constraints.
Design, implement, and refine asset creation pipelines and workflow documentation to increase team efficiency and maintain consistency.
Represent the 3D art department in project planning, milestone reviews, and high-level creative discussions.
8+ years of professional experience in 3D game art creation, with at least 2+ years in a leadership role.
Shipped AAA titles or major indie games, demonstrating a consistent track record of artistic excellence.
Expert knowledge of 3D modeling, texturing, and optimization pipelines for real-time engines.
Deep understanding of cross-department collaboration, including rigging, VFX, lighting, and animation workflows.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities to drive large-scale visual development.Tools & Technical Proficiency:
Modeling & Sculpting: Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush
Texturing & Material Creation: Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Photoshop
Rendering & Game Engines: Unreal Engine, Unity
Supplementary Tools: Marmoset Toolbag, Quixel Suite, Marvelous Designer (for cloth/fabric work)
Familiarity with performance optimization, LOD systems, and real-time rendering constraints
Strong artistic judgment and attention to form, silhouette, and detail
Advanced problem-solving and decision-making skills across artistic and technical challenges
Ability to give and receive feedback constructively and guide team members effectively
Proven time management and project planning skills in production environments
Visionary mindset with the ability to bridge creative direction with technical feasibility