Expert Character Artist

2K
San Mateo
Full timeUSD 127,500 - 188,700 annuallyFunction: Design (Product/UX/UI/Visual)Experience: 8+ yearsSkills: ["Autonomy","Collaboration","Problem-solving","Communication","Mentorship"]

Create benchmark characters, creatures, and weapons from high-resolution sculpts through modeling, UVs, texture painting, materials, and engine integration. Own complex character assignments from concept to technically sound, production-ready assets that support gameplay, animation, and narrative. Help establish visual/technical standards, collaborate cross-discipline to ensure in-game performance, and mentor artists while managing priorities and vendor deliverables.

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FursaFursa
2K
2K
13 hours ago

Expert Character Artist

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Canonical indexed version, validated from employer's careers page.

Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 12 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Create benchmark characters, creatures, and weapons from high-resolution sculpts through modeling, UVs, texture painting, materials, and engine integration. Own complex character assignments from concept to technically sound, production-ready assets that support gameplay, animation, and narrative. Help establish visual/technical standards, collaborate cross-discipline to ensure in-game performance, and mentor artists while managing priorities and vendor deliverables.
Location: San Mateo
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Design (Product/UX/UI/Visual)
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Create benchmark characters, creatures, and weapons from high-resolution sculpts through modeling, topology, UVs, bakes, texture painting, materials, and engine integration.
  • •Own complex character assignments by translating concepts and briefs into visually compelling, technically sound game assets.
  • •Establish and uphold visual and technical standards via benchmark assets, documentation, and practical solutions that improve consistency and quality.
  • •Partner with art and cross-discipline teams to resolve challenges so assets deform, perform, and read as intended in game.
  • •Mentor other artists through critique, manage assignments and priorities, and provide craft oversight for external art vendors by reviewing deliverables and giving actionable feedback.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 127,500 - 188,700 annually
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVisionLife Insurance401kEquityPaid HolidaysPaid LeavePaid SickParental LeaveWellness StipendCommuter BenefitsGym Membership

Key Requirements

  • •8+ years of professional character art experience in games with experience contributing to multiple shipped titles.
  • •Exceptional online portfolio with breakdowns showing artistic judgment, technical execution, and stylistic range.
  • •Mastery of anatomy, proportion, costume, color, materials, and design.
  • •Expert command of real-time character pipelines (sculpting/modeling, topology, UVs, texturing, PBR/NPR materials, performance optimization, engine integration).
  • •Strong skills with ZBrush, Maya, Substance 3D Painter, Unreal Engine, and/or Photoshop, plus the ability to solve complex visual/technical problems and mentor others.
Experience:8+ yearsVideo games
Skills:AutonomyCollaborationProblem-solvingCommunicationMentorship
Languages:English
Tech Stack:ZBrushMayaSubstance 3D PainterUnreal EnginePhotoshop

Company Brief

2K
2K is a video game publisher and developer known for sports, action, and strategy franchises such as NBA 2K, WWE 2K, Borderlands, and Sid Meier’s Civilization. It operates as a major label within Take-Two Interactive.
Industry: Gaming
Company Size: Large (251 to 1,000 employees)
Growth: Established Company
Headquarters: Novato, United States
Founded: 2005
WebsiteLinkedIn