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Lead 3D Character Artist
1 year ago
Company Overview:
A leader in creating deep and engaging experiences on PC and mobile, Jagex was founded in 2001 and is today one of the UK’s biggest and most respected video game developers and publishers.
Famed for its flagship MMOs RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, Jagex has welcomed more than 260million player accounts to its world and created a $1bn lifetime franchise revenue. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds.
Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly-active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.
Jagex is expanding and extending its portfolio with fresh franchise titles, new IP and, in 2018 launched Jagex Partners, delivering third-party publishing and operational services exclusively for the living games of the future.
Jagex employs more than 400 people at its Cambridge headquarters and is on the hunt for talented people to work across the business to help the company to achieve yet another year of record growth and player satisfaction.
Project Background:
Jagex has begun exciting new projects that leverage our legendary RuneScape IP in creative ways. We are expanding a project team with expertise in the latest technologies, focused around Unreal Engine 5, to create a highly-skilled, player-focused development group that you could join. A core team based in Cambridge, augmented by members distributed globally, form a friendly, talented bunch keen to invite new members.
Apply your passion for creating unforgettable online games and drive technology development to help us fulfil our vision for a deep, community-driven, connected, multi-platform Open World Survival Craft experience, set in the RuneScape universe.
Job Purpose:
You are a highly skilled individual who can create, deliver and guide others to produce the highest standard character art. You provide invaluable support to the Art Director and have a deep understanding of modern modelling and texturing pipelines as well as processes within your discipline.
A Lead is a skilled contributor with the ability and desire to manage direct reports and to be able to effectively time manage themselves and others in their sub team to deliver the results expected by the game’s art direction. Leads work closely with the Directors to establish the vision and document any style guides or pipelines in support of that goal. They will be expected to be hands-on and perform the duties of their discipline as needed while also taking on the lead-specific duties as outlined below.
Key Duties Include:
- Provide leadership, direction and line management to the character team
- Responsible for the delivery of highest quality in game character art
- Collaborate with Tech Art and Code to ensure pipelines and tools are effective, optimal and capable of delivery
- Review assets to maintain consistent quality and provide feedback and critique
- Plan, schedule and structure discipline tasks that feed into AD’s master schedule
- Document and communicate technical specifications and visual benchmarks to support the games artistic vision to both internal and external artists
- Produce production guides breaking down in detail steps to reproduce assets within style
- Support, promote and build good team and studio morale in an open, creative environment
- Together with AD/ AAD contribute toward discipline hiring plans and recruitment process
- Manage outsource partners or freelancers as required.
Essential Skills:
- Expert working knowledge of Maya, Z-Brush and Substance.
- Portfolio evidence of ‘hands on’ outstanding AAA Character art.
- Mastery of anatomy.
- Understanding of both realism and stylised styles and breakdowns.
- Thorough knowledge of end-to-end in character workflow and related disciplines.
- Enough understanding of technical art to communicate and resolve character related issues.
- Comfortable with running individual, group review and critique sessions.
- Able to time manage, prioritise and track both themselves and direct reports.
- Ability to communicate clearly, and concisely to team, peers and management.
- Willingness to transition between asset production and line management.
- Able to level up junior to senior artists through teaching and mentoring.
- Professional attitude and work ethic.
- Excellent soft skills and team-working.
- Working knowledge of Unreal engine.
Desirable Skills:
- Character Concept Design.
- Rigging and skinning.
- Traditional sculpting.
Company Benefits:
- Flexible Working
- Bonus Scheme
- Private Health Care
- Gym Membership
- Generous Pension Contributions
- Life Insurance
- Free Cycle Repair
- Income Protection
- Dental Plan
- Free Fruit and Drinks
- Subsidised Canteen
Feel like you fit this role, but don’t meet all the requirements? We strive for fresh perspectives, so as long as you can demonstrate how your attitude and other abilities might make up for any gaps we would welcome your application!
Jagex are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.
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