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Lead Artist, Game Prototyping

Pixelberry Studios is a top mobile games developer, creating fun and engaging games with heart for over nine years. We’re a division of Nexon, one of the Top 10 largest gaming companies in the world. Our studio is 3-for-3 launching games into the App Store's Top 25 Grossing chart. Our market-leading, award-winning mobile game, Choices: Stories You Play, broke into the Top 5 in the App Store. Our vision for success is based around innovative game design, diversity, and putting our players first!

We've seen firsthand the positive impact that games can make. Because of that, we leverage our commercial success to make a real difference: we have partnered with numerous non-profits, saved actual lives with our games, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities. Players love our games’ focus on racial, gender, sexual, and identity diversity while holding us accountable when they expect more.

Some of us at Pixelberry have worked together for over 10 years through multiple companies. As a result, we strive to create long-term relationships that help sustain our success. We continue to add new individuals who aren’t just searching for another stepping stone but a place to put down roots and actively make a difference. We love what we do and are looking for passionate, like-minded people who want to grow, learn, and make a difference together.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Pixelberry is seeking a Lead Game Prototyping Artist to discover, define, and bring to life the aesthetic vision of our next hit title.

As a founding member of our new game incubation team, you'll work closely with our Game Director to:

● Prototype mobile games at increasing levels of fidelity

● Iterate quickly on promising concepts

● Solve problems and explore possibilities

● Have and make fun!

This is an opportunity that offers creative involvement from start to ship, and beyond. You'll work in a small team to ideate, prototype, test, and refine the next generation of Pixelberry titles.

Since we are discovering a brand new game together, this role requires someone with a wide range of artistic and technical skills across 2D and 3D as well as varied art styles, and a deep understanding of how aesthetics, mechanics, technology, and story synthesize into cohesive, unforgettable gaming experiences.

Our headquarters are in Los Altos, CA but we can accommodate a remote work environment for a candidate from the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

Currently, all Pixelberry staff work remotely with the option to work in-office, if desired.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with the Game Director to define the art direction for the team’s rapid prototypes.
• Explore, test, and iterate art styles so that the look of a prototype delights its players and reinforces its gameplay and narrative
• Research, analyze, compare, and report on the art style trends in the mobile games industry and beyond
• Develop concept art for characters, props, environments, and key art by hand in a multitude of styles to communicate your vision
• Create other artifacts like iterative sketches, visual style guides, mood boards, art bibles, references, callout sheets, and documentation
• Work with outsourcing vendors to create example production-level assets, providing specs and detailed feedback, ensuring quality, and managing costs and timelines
• Work with the team’s Engineers to implement art and animations hands-on in Unity and balance visual fidelity with technical performance
• As the only artist on a very small team of domain experts – and the champion for allaesthetic concerns – you will be defining and prioritizing many of your own tasks: Anticipate project challenges, set related goals, and spearhead the solutions
• Interview and onboard new Game R&D team members to help grow the team
• Share your domain expertise with the team, and learn from your colleagues about theirs
• Promote an inclusive, high-morale, and high-functioning work environment

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years studio experience in the games industry
• Have shipped at least one game as an artist
• Experience working in both 2D and 3D disciplines, workflows, and industry-standard software
• Experience working in Unity
• Experience working on mobile, F2P, casual, or female-oriented games
• Experience working with art outsourcing vendors professionally
• Able to design and iterate prototype-level user interfaces
• Avid player of many genres of video games
• A portfolio demonstrating:
  • adaptability to a multitude of art styles
  • intent, thought process, ideation, and execution at high fidelity
  • evoking emotion through compelling storytelling, utilizing shape, form, character, and costume
  • advanced foundational skills in anatomy, materials, composition, lighting, and color theory
  • strong design sensibilities

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Competitive salary
• High level of autonomy and freedom
• Rich & flexible health, disability, and employee assistance offerings to meet the needs of a diverse workforce
• 401(K) with matching program
• Paid Year-End Break
• For local employees that elect to work in-studio, a relaxed office environment with free food and snacks
• Virtual escape rooms, video game nights, trivia parties, and other team-building activities throughout the year!

HOW THIS JOB IS DIFFERENT

• Learn about the business side of mobile games. Our team is very good at what we do.
• Good work/life balance. We are family-friendly and look at things in the long term.
• That warm fuzzy feeling that you’re not just making a difference at a company, but in the lives of people all over the world.

Pixelberry Studios values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, Black/BIPOC, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Pixelberry is also an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

Compensation Description for Pay Transparency (annually)

The salary range for the role is $99,040 - $148,560 per year.

Our salary ranges are determined by market data based on position and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum salaries for that position. Where an individual’s pay falls within the range is determined by factors including, but not limited to, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

In some cases, compensation may fall outside of this range depending on factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.