Lead Artist

ABOUT ULTIMATE STUDIO

Ultimate Studio is a Melbourne based games studio on a mission to build remarkable long lasting games. To do this we want to bring passionate and talented people together, and give them the resources, time and space to focus on building games. We are currently looking for driven developers to join our experienced teams to help shape and build two high fidelity action PC games using Unreal Engine. Ultimate Studio is also a remote first workplace built on trust that caters for flexible working hours.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As the Lead Artist you’ll be working closely with the art director to execute on the vision and manage the technical aspects of the art team for an upcoming PC title. Collaborating closely with the Art Director and the game development team, you will provide guidance to other Artists in line with the art vision and contribute to the creation of art assets that align with the overall art direction. This full-time role demands an understanding of art techniques, proficiency in the latest tools and technologies, and the ability to deliver high fidelity and performant results. A self-driven and collaborative mindset is crucial for championing artistic vision while working collaboratively with both creative and technical stakeholders to create remarkable game art that captivates players.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work closely with the Art Director to understand and internalize the project’s creative vision and translate it into actionable goals and guidelines for the art team to follow throughout the project.
  • Oversee the creation and production of high-quality art assets across the game.
    Lead and manage a team of artists, including task assignment, workload balancing, and providing constructive feedback to foster growth and development.
  • Establish and optimize art production pipelines and workflows, identifying areas for efficiency improvements and implementing best practices.
  • Collaborate closely with other departments, such as game design, engineering, and production, to ensure seamless integration of art assets and alignment with the overall project goals.
  • Conduct regular art reviews and provide detailed feedback to artists, addressing artistic techniques, composition, color theory, and other relevant aspects to enhance the quality of the artwork.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and new artistic techniques, and explore opportunities to incorporate them into the project.
  • Manage art-related schedules, milestones, and deadlines, coordinating with the production team to ensure timely delivery of art assets.
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including the art director, project leads, and external partners, providing progress updates, addressing concerns, and presenting art-related deliverables.
  • Mentor and develop junior artists, providing guidance, sharing knowledge, and fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
  • Oversee technical aspects of art production, including asset optimization, file management, shader implementation, and compatibility across platforms, ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources and maintaining the desired visual quality.
  • Identify and resolve art-related issues and challenges, such as technical constraints, performance optimizations, and resource limitations, working with the team to find creative solutions.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional art skills, a keen sense of aesthetics, and that shows particular proficiency in creating stylised art.
  • Experience in the games industry, with a proven track record of projects.
  • Drive to see projects to completion with the ability to work with teams to bring assets from concept to shippable quality under time constraints.
  • Ability to adapt to and expand upon an established art style.
  • Proficiency in 3D modeling and sculpting tools (e.g., Maya, Blender, ZBrush).
  • Strong proficiency with texture creation tools (e.g. Substance Painter) with good understanding of PBR workflows within stylised and realistic workflows and how they can be interwoven.
  • Unreal Engine experience – ideally with at least 1 shipped title.
  • Understanding of memory and performance limitations in relation to 3D art.
  • Effective time and workload management skills to meet project deadlines.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills for effective teamwork with cross-functional teams.
  • Proactive problem-solving abilities and attention to detail for delivering top-notch results.
  • Houidni knowledge a plus.

HOW TO APPLY

Email your CV and examples of your work to jobs@ultimatestudio.com.au with the role you're applying for in the subject.