Senior Environment Artist - Coconut Lizard

Senior Environment Artist – Coconut Lizard

Coconut Lizard is at the cutting edge of technology and creativity, delivering co-development video game services to our global triple-A clients. Our successful studio is growing, and we are now looking for a Senior Environment Artist to join the expanding art team. Founded in 2015, and part of the Keyword Studios Group since 2020, we are based in Newcastle/Gateshead area and we work on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement. We offer our talented team a professional, fun and supportive working environment and we are passionate about what we do.

The Role

The Senior Environment Artist is going to be a key part of our growing Art Team. This is very much a hands-on role. Coconut Lizard work with very high-profile clients on amazing game titles and so the quality of our artwork is critical to satisfying and retaining their loyalty.

Responsibilities:

• Create exceptional artwork following specified art direction.
• Work with Art Leads in helping to define clear visual goals, create best practice assets and help to oversee art team quality, ensuring consistency between initial vision and final assets.
• Attend regular reviews of artwork and assist in both providing and implementing feedback.
• Work with tech artists and programmers to improve workflows and shaders, and ensure assets adhere to tech briefs.
• Ensure work meets all technical constraints with an awareness of memory usage, optimisation and the impact of art on frame rate.
• Ensure all artwork adheres to guidelines regarding naming conventions, texture layering structures, folders etc.
• Add to our library of tutorials, documents and technical guides to improve efficiency in the art pipeline and be proactive in finding solutions to technical issues.
• Keep up to date with industry advancements and technologies and share knowledge with the art team.
• With a professional and organised approach, you adhere to schedules and promptly feedback concerns regarding any aspects of the project. Ensuring the right tasks are tackled in the right order, updating Jira, communicating progress and helping to manage team deliverables.
• Able, when required, to take ownership of specific features of the game or to manage outsource artwork, including all communication, feedback and implementation.
• Self-driven, autonomous and confident, demonstrate responsibility for work quality and processes for both yourself and other members of the art team, actively contributing fresh ideas and encouraging the team.
• Confident with motivating Artists, inspire colleagues to flourish and help promote a culture of collaborative innovation.

Requirements

Essential Skills:

• Excellent artistic ability and meticulous attention to detail.
• Highly proficient in Maya/Max, Z-Brush, Photoshop and Substance suite.
• Experienced in using current game editors such as UE4 or Unity 4.
• Expert knowledge of composition, colour and PBR.
• Evidence of being an enthusiastic leader or role model in intermediate art role.
• Strong communication and organisation skills.
• Practical and methodical approach to both technical and creative problem-solving.
• Flexible and calm approach with the ability to adapt with change.
• Ability to deliver quality work within fixed time constraints.
• Passion for staying up to date with latest technology and embracing new game art techniques.

Desirable Skills:

• A good understanding of lighting principles and post processes.
• Experience in outsource art provision.
• Experience of working within game development for at least 4 years.
• At least three published titles.
• At least two full project cycles in an Intermediate Art position.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks – just some of the many offered by d3t:

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays + up to 5 days extra for length of service)
• Company Pension Scheme
• Flexible working hours
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Share Scheme
• Anti-crunch ethos - an amazingly professional, fun and supportive working environment!
• Income Protection
• Annual Bonus – be rewarded for great teamwork!
• Free Parking
• Tech and Bike Scheme
• Company Share Scheme
• Company Socials, Project Launch/Wrap Parties + Annual Events
• Complimentary refreshments in the studio

We offer a flexible working policy - this role will be studio based.

Initial interviews will be help by video call with a second interview at the studio.

Don't meet every single requirement? Not a problem - please apply. At d3t we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace and culture. If this opportunity excites you but your current skills or past experience don't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to still apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles within our team.