At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and create stunning sci-fi visuals for a top-down strategy game.
- Company: Join an innovative early-stage studio with a passion for indie development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work flexibility, and creative influence on projects.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make your mark in a hands-on role with real creative impact.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading art teams and delivering high-quality assets.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
An early-stage studio is building a top-down strategy/RTS-adjacent game with two complementary layers: a hard-surface, industrial UI/management layer and large-scale planetary environments viewed from a satellite/top-down perspective. The visual tone is realistic, gritty sci-fi with a slight 1970s retro/dystopian sensibility. You’ll join a small growing studio and be the first hire for the Art Team as a hands-on Art Director.
Key responsibilities:
- Define and own the visual language across environments, vehicles, props, and UI, ensuring strong top-down readability at medium/far camera distances.
- Lead, hire and mentor a small internal art team; have full input on all art hires.
- Be hands on, produce concept and production assets alongside your team, ensuring a consistently high quality.
- Create practical pipelines and workflows for modular asset assembly, procedural or generated content, and rapid iteration.
- Collaborate with design and engineering to translate gameplay systems into clear visual systems and prioritize deliverables for prototypes and production.
Must-have:
- Senior lead with proven experience shipping or leading early stage projects from prototyping through to production.
- Portfolio demonstrating hard-surface sci-fi environments, props, and assets optimized for medium/far/top-down views.
- Hands-on skills in modelling/texturing/asset assembly; able to deliver production-ready art quickly.
- Strong leadership, hiring, communication and prioritisation skills for fast-moving small teams.
Nice-to-have:
- RTS/strategy or similar game experience.
- Unity engine familiarity and common DCC toolchain experience.
We plan to deliver the main project in about 18 months and need someone who can commit for that period. You'll be joining a small early-stage team so it’s hands-on, fast-paced and you’ll have real creative influence including hiring input. The role is remote-first with occasional in-person meetups, we prefer UK/Europe for timezone alignment but will consider exceptional candidates elsewhere. We’re looking for people who love indie/early-stage development and want to ship quickly.
Senior Art Director, Brand employer: Datascope Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Datascope Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Art Director, Brand
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, join relevant online communities, and attend virtual events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially in hard-surface sci-fi environments. A strong portfolio can speak volumes about your skills and creativity.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the studio and their projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their vision and how you can contribute to their unique art style.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Art Director, Brand
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio: Make sure to include a link to your portfolio that highlights your hard-surface sci-fi environments and assets. We want to see your best work, especially pieces that demonstrate your skills in top-down readability and medium/far camera views.
Tailor Your Application: When applying, customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the key responsibilities and must-have skills listed in the job description. We love seeing how your experience aligns with our needs, so don’t hold back!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re a small team looking for someone who fits our culture, so share your passion for indie development and any unique experiences that make you stand out.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of getting noticed, apply directly through our website. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our art team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Datascope Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-organised portfolio that highlights your best work, especially focusing on hard-surface sci-fi environments and assets. Tailor your selection to demonstrate your understanding of top-down readability and the gritty aesthetic they’re after.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led and mentored teams in previous roles. Be ready to discuss your approach to hiring and how you foster collaboration within small teams, as this role will require strong leadership from day one.
✨Understand Their Vision
Research the studio’s project and be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with theirs. Show enthusiasm for indie development and articulate how you can contribute to their unique sci-fi strategy game, especially in creating practical pipelines and workflows.
✨Be Hands-On in Your Approach
Since this is a hands-on role, be ready to talk about your modelling and texturing skills. Discuss your experience with asset assembly and how you can deliver production-ready art quickly, as this will be crucial for their fast-paced environment.