Character Artist (ExDev - Contract)

 Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Character Artist to assist our External Development (ExDev) Senior Character Artist in managing and reviewing outsourced character assets for our upcoming title. 

In this role, you will review and provide feedback on external character art assets, ensuring they meet our high-quality standards and integrate seamlessly into our production pipeline. You will work closely with external partners, internal stakeholders, and the ExDev team to help deliver visually compelling characters while maintaining the project's artistic vision. 

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in character modeling, sculpting, and texturing and experience working with outsourced content and external teams. A keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of real-time game pipelines are essential for success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the ExDev Senior Character Artist to review and provide detailed feedback on outsourced character art assets, ensuring visual consistency and quality
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the game's artistic direction, technical requirements, and production guidelines to assist external teams effectively - assist in troubleshooting integrating and refining outsourced character assets to align with in-house standards
• Partner with internal stakeholders, including concept artists, technical artists, and animation teams, to ensure smooth asset delivery and implementation
• Maintain up-to-date documentation and feedback templates to streamline communication with external partners
• Provide artistic support where needed, including but not limited to asset cleanup, material adjustments, and polish passes
• Research industry trends, tools, and techniques to improve ExDev workflows and enhance outsourced asset quality

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience as a 3D Character Artist, with exposure to outsourcing workflows preferred
• Experience reviewing and providing feedback on outsourced character assets
• Strong understanding of character modeling, sculpting, texturing, and material setup in a real-time game engine
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Substance Painter/Designer
• Solid understanding of anatomy, proportion, topology, UV layout, and PBR workflows
• Experience working within a game development pipeline, including optimization techniques for real-time rendering
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to provide clear and actionable feedback
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and maintain constructive relationships with external teams
• Self-motivated with strong time management and prioritization skills to handle multiple assignments

Preferred Experience

• Experience in an ExDev or outsourcing support role at a game studio• Familiarity with proprietary game engines and the technical constraints of AAA console development
• Understanding rigging, animation requirements, and best practices for character deformation
• Experience with photogrammetry, scan data cleanup, or procedural workflows
• The ability to speak Mandarin is a plus, as some outsourcing partners may speak Mandarin

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