Lead Character Artist

At Wizards of the Coast, we harness the power of imagination and connection to create unforgettable experiences. We create entertainment that inspires creativity, sparks passion, forges friendships, and fosters communities around the globe. In every pursuit our mission is to inspire a lifetime love of games. Whether it's through the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering®, the rich storytelling of Dungeons & Dragons®, or our AAA digital game studios, we build worlds that bring people together, spark creativity, and fuel adventure. As we continue to grow and explore new realms, we're seeking passionate, curious, and innovative minds to join the adventure.

Skeleton Key is a game development studio and division of Wizards of the Coast. We are a group of industry veterans who are guided by the belief that empowering our teams and providing the necessary time, tools, and support we can foster a creative culture where everyone can do their best work.

Our studio is located in Austin, TX, and we are looking for a passionate and dedicated Lead Character Artist to join us and bring our first AAA game to life. This role will be based out of Austin, TX.

Reporting to the Art Director, you will be a key contributor as we enter pre-production, by bringing your extensive modeling and material experience to help us build outstanding characters and creatures. You will assist in defining the overall look for a cast of compelling characters and the process used to create them. This role requires a strong technical sense as well as the ability to implement the highest-quality art.

What you'll do:

• Create iconic 3D characters that establish and drive the quality bar for our project.
• Assist Tech Art and Engineering in planning and implementing our character art process and pipelines including mesh processing, materials, hair and other associated work.
• Elevate, visualize and evangelize our artistic vision as part of an outstanding development team.
• Deep understanding of the Art creation process and pipeline, in relation to AAA 3D game development.
• Outstanding communication skills both written and verbal. You can effectively articulate technical process and provide critical visual feedback for external artists
• Work with outsource co-dev partners to ensure continuity and compatibility with the artistic vision.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to a your team and facilitate growth in their career paths.

What you'll bring:

• The internal drive, collaborative mentality, and positive team-player approach to build a truly outstanding game.
• 7 +yrs of focused experience in AAA game development as a Character Artist specializing in organic forms using Maya, Zbrush or similar tools.
• Experience collaborating and iterating with other Character Artists both internally and externally.
• The creative vision to take a character to completion from either a detailed or a high-level concept image.
• Deep hands-on knowledge of next-generation asset creation pipelines, tools, and workflows in Unreal Engine.
• Experience partnering with an Art Director or visual lead in developing a unique and cohesive modeling and texturing style and process for characters, creatures, and manufactured forms.
• Exceptional understanding of character form, shape, structure, and silhouette.
• Skill in contributing, interpreting, and clearly communicating art direction within a team.
• Able to effectively collaborate with game designers and programmers, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and prototyping.
• A passion for deep, horror and fantasy stories and role-playing games.

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

Skeleton Key is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. We are committed to making all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process and need to request an accommodation, please contact your recruiter or coordinator.

The base salary range for this position is $156,800.00 to $235,200.00. The hiring range will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location and market conditions. Additionally, employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Time Off to Recharge: Paid Vacation & Holidays
• Financial Well-being: Generous 401(k) Match
• Life & Family Support: Paid Parental Leave
• Giving Back: Volunteer & Employee Giving Programs
• Level Up Your Skills: Tuition Reimbursement
• Exclusive Perks: Product Discounts & More!

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