Lead Level Artist (North America)

RedHot was founded in 2010 by veterans from the US and Chinese video game outsourcing industries, which has enabled us to run as lean as possible, while still offering a robust array of services, all without sacrificing quality or security. Over the years we have grown from a small core team to over 500 strong, spread across 6 locations in China and one in Southeast Asia. From concept art to 3D character and asset creation, animation, engine integration, and marketing materials, our industry-proven production pipeline is well- integrated, efficient, and reliable.

At RedHot – A Keywords Studio, you'll be working on world-famous AAA game projects (please check our website to see some of the projects we have had the privilege to work on). You'll be working with the same tools and processes as top global game developers, while earning name credits on blockbuster game titles played by millions.

As the Lead Level Artist here at RedHot, you will be the cornerstone in guiding and maintaining the artistic direction for various clients' level design projects, ensuring both visual cohesion and the highest quality standards. You will act as the pivotal bridge between our North American clients and our dedicated China-based production team, capturing the client's artistic vision and conveying it seamlessly to the production floor. Furthermore, your leadership skills will shine as you guide, mentor, and support this team, fostering a harmonious and productive environment. Embedded within these responsibilities is the creation of comprehensive style guides in collaboration with our clients, setting the visual benchmarks that drive our projects to excellence.

Ideally, this position would be Hybrid based in Seattle, however, we are open to fully remote from Canada or the United States for the right candidate.

Some of the cool stuff you'll be doing:

Establish, maintain, and enhance the art style & direction for all level art assets.

Review and approve all level art assets created by the team.

Work with clients to understand their expectations and ensure that they are being met.

Create comprehensive style guides and visual benchmarks in tandem with clients. Regularly review and adjust based on project evolution and feedback.

Oversee the level art production pipeline, ensuring outputs meet client expectations, quality standards, and project timelines.

Conduct regular art reviews, providing constructive criticism and actionable feedback to the production team. Foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Liaise between clients, in-house artists, and other departments like lighting, environment, and VFX to ensure cohesive and integrated game scenes.

Address any artistic or technical challenges that arise during the production process, devising solutions in conjunction with the relevant departments.

Remain up-to-date with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in level art and game design, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of the industry.

Recognize and respect cultural nuances between Western clients and the China-based team, facilitating smooth communication and mutual understanding.

Requirements

What you'll bring to the table:

Bachelor's degree in Art, Game Design, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).

Proven experience in level art for AAA games, with a strong portfolio showcasing diverse projects.

Strong understanding of level art design and production principles including how to set up modular kits, working to establish vertical slices/beautiful corners, optimizing for memory constraints, etc.

Demonstrable leadership skills, with prior experience managing or leading a team preferred.

Excellent client interaction skills with a strong ability to capture and convey artistic visions.

Experience with a variety of game engines, such as Unreal Engine or Unity.

Experience with 3D modeling, texturing, and animation software.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Adept at working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, juggling multiple projects with varying deadlines.

Bonus Points:

Proficiency in Mandarin is a plus

Experience working for or with art services/outsourcing studios

Experience working with remote production teams – extra points for experience with China-based teams

Experience with asset management systems.

Experience with scripting and programming languages.

Experience with level art optimization techniques.

Experience with Substance Painter and procedural texturing

Experience with a variety of game art styles.

Benefits

What's in it for you?

In addition to working for one of the leading Art Services providers in the games industry, we are also able to offer the following benefits:

Fully remote work environment

Salary range based on experience but expected to be between $100K - $140K USD (or CAD equivalent)

Comprehensive benefits package that covers Dental Care, Health Care (including out-of-country coverage), Vision Care, Long Term Disability, Physio, Massage etc.

Generous vacation and personal leave policies

Life Insurance & Dependent Life Insurance coverage

RRSP Matching and Employee Stock Purchase Programs

Ability to work on multiple AAA IP's

The opportunity to build or expand your career the way you want to, in a smaller studio connected to a global studio family

RedHot is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. Please let us know of any accommodations needed to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process.

Role Information: EN

Studio: RedHot

Location: Americas, Canada

Area of Work: Art Services

Service: Create

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Remote