Sr 3D Artist, ExDev (Contract)

Santa Monica Studio is seeking an experienced 3D artist for the development of a new unannounced title!

This is an opportunity to contribute to the artistic vision and development of our products with a specialized focus on creating high-quality props and assets while leveraging your environment art background.

As a Senior 3D Artist, you will effectively collaborate with a wide range of development team members outside of your direct discipline, such as the Art Director, Designers, Technical Artists, Animators, Programmers, and Producers, to achieve artistic goals and implementation in relation to design and technological considerations. You will also serve as a bridge between internal teams and external development partners.

• Partner with external development teams by providing clear feedback, detailed briefs, and technical guidance to ensure delivered assets meet our quality standards and artistic vision
• Take ownership of specific prop categories or asset sets and facilitate requests or information needs regarding any aspect of the prop creation process
• Implement delivered assets into the game engine and perform technical optimization, including minor ZBrush mesh cleanup, UV layout improvements, and resolving technical inefficiencies with delivered art assets
• Mentor junior and mid-level artists, including onboarding new team members, providing timely feedback, and directing work duties to support their growth and development
• Possess strong time management and prioritization skills, collaborating with the Production group to develop task lists, ensuring assignments progress in alignment with schedules, milestones, and overall project goals
• Clearly communicate updates and escalate concerns to appropriate team members and managers while representing the studio professionally in all external communications
• Serve as a high-level contributor to the development of artistic techniques and processes utilized to create props and assets within the studio, drawing from comprehensive knowledge of environment art production pipelines and all engine tools and systems
• Content creation from concept to final implementation, including 3D modeling/sculpting, 2D texture map painting, material setup/UV layout, baking, and LOD creation according to defined quality standards, artistic styles, conceptual designs, development pipelines, technical parameters, and production goals
• Create and implement a wide variety of high-quality assets, including environment props, character props, breakables, and environment assets, maintaining artistic direction and vision through all phases of development

• 7+ years of industry experience with a focus on prop creation and environment art
• Proficient in Maya (or equivalent 3D modeling package), ZBrush, and Substance Designer/Painter
• Strong experience in full asset creation pipeline from high-res sculpting to final in-game implementation, including modeling, texturing, material creation, and technical optimization
• Comprehensive understanding of video game product development including workflow, tools, lighting, high and low poly modeling, texture painting, UV layout, material setup, baking processes, and engine parameters/optimizations
• Experience with optimal UV layouts and ability to troubleshoot and resolve baking issues when transitioning from high-res to game-res assets
• Demonstrated ability to work with outsourcing partners and external development teams, providing clear feedback and maintaining positive professional relationships
• Excellent aesthetic and artistic eye with ability to consistently elevate asset quality through feedback and hands-on refinement
• Strong communication, organizational, time management, mentoring, and interpersonal skills
• Works under minimal direction to determine and develop an approach to solutions while maintaining flexibility to work on various asset types and collaborate across multiple departments

• Experience with Houdini
• Shipped AAA game(s), or games with high-quality art standards
• Ability to create paint-overs or modify 3d assets to provide visual feedback
• Extensive experience with outsourcing processes and external team management
• Understanding of environment art creation and level layout principles
• Basic animation experience and understanding of asset requirements for animated content

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