Senior Hard Surface Artist
The Gearbox Entertainment Company is an award-winning creator and distributor of entertainment for people around the world. Gearbox Entertainment develops and publishes products through its subsidiaries, Gearbox Software and Gearbox Publishing. Gearbox Entertainment has become widely known for successful game franchises including Brothers in Arms and Borderlands, as well as acquired properties Duke Nukem and Homeworld. Gearbox’s ambition is to entertain the world and its key driving objectives include the pursuit of happiness for our talent, partners and customers, the prioritization of entertainment and creativity and a measured respect for profitability. For more information, visit www.Gearbox.com.
Gearbox Software is looking for an experienced hard-surface artist to join our weapons and gear team. We have a strong history of using proprietary technology to deliver a seemingly endless amount of loot to our players, and now we need an artist to help us bring the next iteration and evolution of that system to life! If you have a passion for making complicated mechanical objects, futuristic industrial/automotive designs, or even weapons made from sawblades/chainsaws/glass bottles a reality, this could be the opportunity for you. If you think you would enjoy complex problem-solving while attempting to bring some of the coolest/fun weapon art in the industry to life, this may be the chance. If you are still reading, then check out the specs below!
Responsibilities:
- Create detailed high poly models of weapons, gear for our proprietary loot system with a deep amount of parts and complexity.
- Build high quality proxy/block-out meshes based off varying detail levels of concept that will carry through rigging, animation, design and FX.
- Pull from a large catalog of established manufacturer design languages to make sure shape, details, function, etc. adhere to the high-level art direction.
- Take on technical tasks to help improve weapon team pipeline. Tools, scripts and plugins for modeling as well as Substance Designer/Painter generators and tools for mask and texture creation.
- Create skins and customizations with UE4/5 material system using your strong understanding of RPG style loot rarity progressions. Common to Legendary, drab to covered in gold and beyond.
- Collaborate with the team lead and Concept Artists when needed to develop a solution to reach our visual standards and quality.
- Take on feedback and notes for external partners at all stages of the development process.
- Work with team and lead to help manage schedules, budgets and technical needs to provide an accurate production timeline as well as help keep the overall project on track.
Qualifications:
- Must be highly experienced in the overall 3D art pipeline. High and Low Poly creation, Advanced UV layout and utility channels, advanced mask creation for procedural and dynamic materials, and a strong understand of the Unreal Engine Material system.
- Must show a strong aptitude for hard surface modeling with a focus on complex machinery, ‘functional’ engineering and elaborate industrial design. Ability to handle organics where needed is a major plus. Cloth wraps, flesh mixed with machinery, stone etc.
- Must be extremely proficient in 3D Studio Max, Zbrush (Or equivalent sculpting package), Photoshop, Substance Painter/Designer and UE4/5.
- Ability to focus on extremely large and complex tasks and stay motivated while carrying them over multiple weeks/months to the finish line without compromising quality and vision.
- Be available and able to give feedback, notes and technical direction for internal and external artist when needed.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work with a large team. This includes interfacing with departments such as design, animation, rigging and concept to collaborate and problem solve.
- Able to understand complex additive/modular systems and hierarchy and well as design and problem solve within those constraints.
- A high-level understanding of rigging and animations as well as how 3D impacts that is a must.
- Experience with PBR, as well as the ability to create stylized materials and textures within that, is a major plus.
Bonus Points For:
- A passion for over-the-top weapons and gear that attempt to push new boundaries in hard surface design and function for videogames.
- Real world experience and knowledge of firearms and how they function.
- Examples of existing tools, scripts, plugins, etc. you have created for the listed pipeline software.
- An aptitude for stylized art as well as a desire to push both the art and tech forward.
- Sketching, Drawing, Concept, Painting skills.
- A passion for automotive design and mechanical engineering.
- A strong understanding of UE4/5 outside of listed responsibilities including tools, materials, lighting, rendering, blueprint, etc.
Gearbox Entertainment believes that all team members should be able to enjoy a work environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. We are committed to reflecting the diversity of the world we strive to entertain. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we provide fair and equal treatment to all team members and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.