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Lead 3D Environment Artist

Lightforge Games is a new studio bringing the roleplaying back into RPGs.

We're looking for people of all levels, backgrounds, voices, identities, and perspectives to join us on our journey. We strongly believe the key to making a better game, better company, and better industry begins with a diverse set of voices.

We value transparency, empathy, and personal growth, and we believe that making games is both an art and a science.

As a fully remote company, we're open to teammates living nearly anywhere. We practice nonlinear workdays, allowing everyone to determine how and when they work best. We also follow an open salary policy where all pay details are shared with everyone. This holds us accountable to fair pay.

Lightforge Games is very much a work-in-progress, and you can help shape who we are. Come join us to build something special!

Learn more about us here.

Please note - While our corporate address is in Raleigh, all positions at Lightforge Games are remote

Lightforge Games is looking for a Lead 3D Environment Artist!

We are looking for an artist with a proven track record in creating appealing, stylized, AAA quality 3D game environments, who also enjoys the collaborative atmosphere of a great team. In this role, you will be critical in helping fine-tune the look and style of all or environment spaces and assets. In addition to creating art and helping with direction for outsourcing teams, we will also be looking to your experienced feedback on all aspects of our art pipeline.

By joining us at this early stage, you’ll play a big role in helping to guide the direction of our project and company. We’re looking for an artist with proven experience who can grow with the company.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Art Director and Art Leads to develop and enhance the look and style of the game’s natural and architectural environments, helping to define the approach and pipeline from start to finish.
• Establish, lead, and manage an environment art team with in-house and outsourced partners, giving mentorship, guidance, and artistic and technical feedback.
• Direct, lead and contribute in the creation of beautiful, style defining game models, lighting moods, and PBR materials for our environments, while collaborating with tech art and engineering to achieve a high level of modular customization.
• Be a leader in identifying, determining, implementing and resolving necessary technologies, software, and parameters to meet our game’s vision.
• Collaborate with tech art to refine possibilities and constraints for all environments and related systems.
• Help optimize the production and organization of an expanding library of environment art.
• Create proxy models in order to help support testing of new systems as they are developed.
• Help identify internal full time hires and external outsourcing partners for environment art needs.
• Review and provide organized and concisely written feedback to internal and outsourced environment art team members, helping to ensure that all environments and 3D assets are achieving our established quality and style standards.
• Work closely with design, animation, and VFX teams to ensure our environment POIs deliver on gameplay goals.
• Outside of art, contribute to Lightforge Games' direction and values.

Requirements

• Experience in all areas of environment art creation and implementation using associated software and tools - Maya, 3DS Max, Substance, Zbrush, Houdini, etc.
• Strong familiarity with UE4 or UE5 development.
• Experience designing and working with modular assets.
• An understanding of PBR workflows.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work with internal and external team members in a concise and constructive way.
• Fundamental knowledge of color and color theory, light, shape design, and composition.
• Deep interest in the creation and anatomy of natural and unnatural biomes and culture kits.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with ability to fully embrace a remote work culture.
• Great organizational and analytical skills in regards to art creation.

Pluses

• Familiarity with procedural content creation using Houdini or similar techniques.
• 2D or 3D concept art ability.
• Experience working on live-service games.

Please Note: Lightforge Games is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and welcome diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

The base salary range for this role is between $135,000- $190,000, depending on levels of skills and experience. The base salary range represents the low and high end of LFG’s salary range for this position. Salaries will vary depending on various factors which include, but are not limited to location, education, skills, portfolio, experience and performance.