Lead Game Artist

Lead Game Artist

Royal Leamington Spa Full-Time 42000 - 84000 Β£ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Hardlight

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and inspire the art team while creating high-quality game art.
  • Company: Join HARDlight, creators of popular Sonic games with over a billion downloads!
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, comprehensive benefits, and free SEGA games.
  • Other info: This role is based in Leamington Spa with hybrid working options.
  • Why this job: Be part of a creative team that values collaboration and innovation in gaming.
  • Qualifications: Strong 2D/3D art skills and experience with Unity or similar engines required.

The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 Β£ per year.

Role Overview – Lead Game Artist – Sonic Mobile
We’re seeking a Lead Game Artist to join our Sonic Mobile team who develop Sonic Forces, Sonic Dash and Sonic Boom – games with over a billion combined downloads so far!
This unique role is perfect for a lead who sees beyond the conventional project lifecycle and understands the art of nurturing a live service game. Someone excited to see how small improvements in the game lead to big wins in player engagement, retention and community feedback.
You care about slick and efficient pipelines, constantly looking for improvements to allow the artists to support the game’s ambitions.
Most of the art updates for the live Sonic games revolve around building fun characters and exciting UI so this role will suit someone who enjoys working across a range of game art.
Responsibilities
  • Inspire and motivate the art team to achieve their highest potential, driving artistic quality by example, promoting successful teamwork, and giving feedback and direction where needed.
  • Help plan and prioritise art production to efficiently deliver on the game\’s roadmap milestones while adapting to shifting priorities in a live game environment.
  • Get hands-on and create high quality art for the games.
  • Maintain visual consistency in the games, while looking for ways to push quality further.
  • 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 – perform 1-1\’s and support their career development.
  • Identify and implement pipeline improvements that enhance efficiency and quality.
  • Maintain up-to-date documentation for art processes and standards.
  • Partner and coordinate with game stake holders to help deliver improvements with an insight of art implementation and resource requirements.
  • Be a role model for our values of determination, compassion, and collaboration.
Essential Skills & Experience
  • Strong 2D and 3D art creation skills.
  • Experience with Unity or an equivalent game engine, including implementation, asset setup, and optimisation.
  • Proficient with industry tools like 3DS Max, Maya or Blender, Photoshop, Painter.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Strong organizational skills and a real attention to detail.
Desirable Experience
  • A good eye for quality graphic design and animation
  • Experience of basic video editing (Premiere and After Effects)
  • Player focused approach – you know what makes a game fun.
  • An interest in Sonic, SEGA, and stylised games and art.
Why work at HARDlight?
  • Access to a comprehensive flexible benefits package that includes ULEV car salary sacrifice, life assurance, income protection, private healthcare & dental insurance schemes, and an enhanced contributory pension scheme
  • Wellbeing and work life balance support that includes duvet day, volunteer day, free health check and annual flu jab
  • 20 flexible work from home days, that increase to 26 with long service
  • Annual personal performance and studio profit related bonus scheme
  • Free SEGA games on Steam and home technology discounts
  • Discounted gym membership and ride-to-work scheme
  • Set of core hours with flexible start and end times
  • 12 days of training time a year to help improve your skills
This role is based on site at our Leamington Spa studio, UK. We offer hybrid working allowing Monday and Friday as work from home days.

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Lead Game Artist employer: Hardlight

At HARDlight, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Our Leamington Spa studio provides a supportive environment with flexible working options, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, ensuring that our Lead Game Artist can thrive while contributing to beloved titles like Sonic Forces and Sonic Dash. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of game art and player engagement.
Hardlight

Contact Detail:

Hardlight 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 portfolio and discussions with what the team is looking for.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your experience with live service games in your conversations. Highlight any past projects where you've successfully implemented updates based on player feedback, as this aligns perfectly with the role's focus.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you inspire creativity within a team. Be ready to share examples of how you've motivated artists and improved workflows in previous roles.

✨Tip Number 4

Brush up on your technical skills with tools like Unity, 3DS Max, or Blender. Being able to speak confidently about your hands-on experience with these tools will demonstrate your capability to lead by example.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Game Artist

Strong 2D and 3D Art Creation Skills
Experience with Unity or Equivalent Game Engine
Proficient with Industry Tools (3DS Max, Maya, Blender, Photoshop, Painter)
Excellent Communication Skills
Collaboration Skills
Strong Organisational Skills
Attention to Detail
Ability to Inspire and Motivate a Team
Artistic Quality Assurance
Problem-Solving Skills
Pipeline Improvement Implementation
Documentation Skills for Art Processes
Player-Focused Approach
Interest in Sonic, SEGA, and Stylised Games

Some tips for your application 🫑

Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and skills required for the Lead Game Artist position. Tailor your application to highlight your experience in 2D and 3D art creation, as well as your familiarity with game engines like Unity.

Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a strong portfolio that demonstrates your best work in game art. Highlight projects where you've contributed to character design, UI development, or any live service games. Make sure to explain your role in each project.

Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect the essential skills mentioned in the job description. Emphasise your communication and collaboration skills, as well as your organisational abilities. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've successfully led teams or improved art pipelines.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only expresses your enthusiasm for the role but also connects your experience with the company's values of determination, compassion, and collaboration. Mention your interest in Sonic and stylised games to show your passion for the brand.

How to prepare for a job interview at Hardlight

✨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 gaming experience.

✨Understand the Live Service Model

Familiarise yourself with the concept of live service games, as this role requires a deep understanding of how ongoing updates can impact player retention. Be ready to share examples from your past experiences where you've successfully implemented changes that improved player engagement.

✨Emphasise Team Leadership Skills

This position involves leading an art team, so highlight your leadership experience. Discuss how you inspire and motivate your team, provide constructive feedback, and manage individual career development. Share specific instances where your leadership made a significant impact on project outcomes.

✨Prepare for Technical Discussions

Since the role involves troubleshooting art-related technical challenges, brush up on your knowledge of industry-standard tools and game engines like Unity, 3DS Max, or Blender. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled technical issues in the past and how you collaborate with engineering teams to find solutions.

Lead Game Artist
Hardlight
Location: Royal Leamington Spa
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