Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the art team in creating engaging characters and UI for popular Sonic games.
- Company: Join HARDlight, a dynamic studio behind hit Sonic mobile games with over a billion downloads.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work-from-home days, comprehensive health benefits, and performance bonuses.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that values collaboration and innovation in game art.
- Qualifications: Strong 2D/3D art skills and experience with Unity or similar engines required.
- Other info: This role offers hybrid working options and 12 training days annually.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
We’re seeking a Lead Game Artist to join our Sonic Mobile team, responsible for developing Sonic Forces, Sonic Dash, and Sonic Boom – games with over a billion combined downloads so far! This unique role is ideal for a lead who sees beyond the conventional project lifecycle and understands how to nurture a live service game. Someone excited to see how small improvements can lead to significant gains in player engagement, retention, and community feedback. You care about efficient pipelines and are constantly looking for ways to improve the art support for the game's ambitions. Most art updates for the live Sonic games involve creating fun characters and engaging UI, making this role suitable for someone who enjoys working across various aspects of game art.
Responsibilities
- Inspire and motivate the art team to achieve their highest potential, driving artistic quality by example, promoting teamwork, and providing feedback and direction.
- Help plan and prioritize art production to meet the game's roadmap milestones while adapting to shifting priorities in a live environment.
- Contribute hands-on by creating high-quality art for the games.
- Maintain visual consistency across the games while seeking ways to enhance quality.
- Troubleshoot and resolve art-related technical challenges in collaboration with engineering teams.
- Work with IP holders to approve official artwork.
- Line manage the art team, conduct 1-1s, and support their career development.
- Identify and implement pipeline improvements to boost efficiency and quality.
- Keep documentation for art processes and standards up-to-date.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver improvements, understanding art implementation and resource needs.
- Model our values of determination, compassion, and collaboration.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong 2D and 3D art creation skills.
- Experience with Unity or similar game engines, including implementation, asset setup, and optimization.
- Proficiency with industry tools like 3DS Max, Maya, Blender, Photoshop, Painter.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Desirable Experience
- A good eye for quality graphic design and animation.
- Experience with basic video editing (Premiere, After Effects).
- A player-focused approach—understanding what makes a game fun.
- An interest in Sonic, SEGA, and stylized art styles.
Why work at HARDlight?
- Comprehensive benefits including ULEV car salary sacrifice, life assurance, income protection, private healthcare & dental insurance, and pension scheme.
- Wellbeing support such as duvet days, volunteer days, health checks, and flu jabs.
- Up to 26 flexible work-from-home days per year.
- Performance and profit-sharing bonuses.
- Free SEGA games on Steam and discounts on home technology.
- Discounted gym memberships and ride-to-work schemes.
- Core hours with flexible start/end times.
- 12 days of training annually to develop skills.
This role is based on-site at our Leamington Spa studio, UK, with hybrid working options allowing work from home on Mondays and Fridays.
Lead Game Artist employer: SEGA Europe
Contact Detail:
SEGA Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Game Artist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Sonic franchise and its art style. Understanding the unique aesthetic and character design will help you align your vision with the expectations of the team and demonstrate your passion for the project during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you've inspired and motivated a team. Prepare examples that highlight how you’ve driven artistic quality and fostered collaboration, as these are key aspects of the Lead Game Artist role.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your experience with live service games. Highlight any specific instances where you've contributed to player engagement or retention through art updates, as this will resonate well with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to talk about your technical skills with industry-standard tools and game engines. Being able to articulate your proficiency with software like Unity, 3DS Max, or Blender, and how you've used them to solve art-related challenges will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Game Artist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in 2D and 3D art creation, as well as your familiarity with Unity or similar game engines. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and your ability to inspire and motivate a team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for game art and the Sonic franchise. Discuss how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Lead Game Artist role, particularly your experience with live service games and improving player engagement.
Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio that demonstrates your best work in game art. Highlight projects where you contributed to character design, UI development, or any relevant art production that showcases your skills and creativity.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working closely with engineering teams and stakeholders, make sure to mention any past experiences where you successfully collaborated on projects. This will show your ability to communicate effectively and resolve challenges.
How to prepare for a job interview at SEGA Europe
✨Showcase Your Artistic Vision
As a Lead Game Artist, it's crucial to demonstrate your unique artistic vision during the interview. Bring a portfolio that highlights not only your best work but also your thought process behind each piece. Be prepared to discuss how your art contributes to player engagement and enhances the overall gaming experience.
✨Understand the Live Service Model
Familiarise yourself with the concept of live service games, as this role requires someone who can adapt to ongoing changes and improvements. Be ready to discuss how you would approach updates and enhancements in a live environment, and share examples from your past experiences where you've successfully implemented such strategies.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
This position involves working closely with various teams, including engineering and stakeholders. Highlight your communication and collaboration skills by sharing specific examples of how you've effectively worked with others to resolve challenges or improve processes in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Passion for Sonic and Gaming
Show your enthusiasm for the Sonic franchise and gaming in general. Discuss what you love about the games and how your personal interests align with the company's values. This passion can set you apart and show that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely excited about contributing to the team.
