At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning 3D assets and optimise them for real-time rendering in Unreal Engine.
- Company: Join ZeroLight, a leading visualisation platform transforming digital customer experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a fully stocked kitchen.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with mentorship and personal development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team shaping the future of automotive visualisation.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in 3D art production with strong Unreal Engine skills.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom | Posted on 08/13/2026
Our product-configuration and content-production platform establishes competitive advantages for automotive OEMs around the world, using the cloud to make real-time rendering accessible and affordable for any user in any market.
Featuring innovative experiences and stunning graphics, it enhances every stage of the vehicle-shopping journey by increasing engagement, delivering personalisation, and driving sales.
Formed in Newcastle in 2014, we have expanded to become a truly international company, trusted to deliver major global projects with brands including VW, Audi, BRP, BMW, Nissan, and Mitsubishi
Job Description
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne / Hybrid Working
Type
Full Time
Please Note
We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
About Zero Light
Zero Light is a visualisation platform for brands that want to build stunning digital customer experiences that captivate and convert.
Whether it’s creating world-beating product configurators, producing photoreal CGI content, or accessing enterprise-standard cloud-streaming, Zero Light makes the process simpler, faster and more efficient.
The Role
We’re looking for a talented and adaptable Unreal 3D Artist to help us create industry-leading visual experiences.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between high-end 3D asset creation and real-time rendering, bringing environments and products to life within Unreal Engine.
You will work closely with both the art and development teams to ensure assets are not only visually stunning but also highly optimised for real-time performance.
Requirements
- Technical Experience & Requirements
- 2 plus years’ experience in 3D art production, preferably working within the computer games or real-time visualisation industry.
- Demonstrable, strong experience using Unreal Engine.
- Demonstrable experience using 3DS Max (or similar software like Maya/Blender) and standard game art technologies.
- Strong knowledge of real-time material creation and cutting-edge shader techniques.
- Experience using Substance 3D Designer is an advantage.
- Familiarity with Unreal's profiling and debugging tools to identify and fix performance bottlenecks is highly beneficial.
- Basic understanding of Unreal's visual scripting system is a plus.
- The Person
- Ability to pick up new skills and pipelines in a short time period with an eagerness to learn new software and bespoke systems.
- A collaborative mindset with experience communicating with developers and working to strict deadlines.
- Receptive to feedback, with the ability to take constructive criticism and quickly iterate on designs.
- A pragmatic problem-solver who can find creative workarounds for real-time engine limitations.
Key Responsibilities
- Create, optimise, and implement high-quality 3D assets, textures, and materials directly into Unreal Engine.
- Set up lighting and rendering within Unreal, utilising dynamic global illumination and post-process volumes to achieve photorealistic results.
- Ensure all models maintain clean topology, efficient UV mapping, and appropriate Level of Detail (LOD) for smooth real-time performance.
- Set up animations, rig, and prepare mechanical elements for real-time animation (e. g., opening doors, bonnets, trunks, DRL’s and night lights).
- Set up configurations, assembling modular asset variant sets, organising hierarchies and naming conventions to accommodate real-time parameter changes (e. g., swapping trim packages, wheel styles, or exterior colours).
- Collaborate with the engineering team using version control software (e. g., Perforce or Git) to manage files and collaborate without overwriting work.
- Collaborate with the delivery team to ensure clear communication on work status, blockers, and schedules.
- What to expect
At Zero Light, we value innovation and creativity, shaping our lifestyle and professional benefits around a supportive, collaborative, and rewarding environment.
- Reward & Contribution
- Annual salary review process
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance program
- Provision of all the tools you need to perform your best work
- Fully stocked kitchen with free drinks, crisps, fruit, yoghurts, biscuits, chocolate bars, porridge and granola.
- Development & Progression
- A comprehensive onboarding process to ensure you hit the ground running
- Quarterly Collaboration Weeks where teams gather to share knowledge and best practices
- One to one coaching sessions with qualified coaches
- Company-wide personal development sessions on topics such as psychological safety and overcoming imposter syndrome
- Mentorship from a team of seasoned professionals across different disciplines
- Travel & conference opportunities
- Time
- Generous holiday allowance: 25 days holiday, which rises to 30 days based on length of service
- Additional free holidays over the Christmas period when the studio closes.
- All standard bank holidays
- Flexible working hours with start and finish times between 8am - 10am / 4pm - 6pm
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) access for mental health and wellbeing support including access to therapy sessions
- Free fruit and healthy snacks, running and sports clubs, Cycle to Work Scheme, and showers in the studio
- Quarterly social gatherings, including our famous Christmas Party
- Enjoy a creative, inclusive, and collaborative culture
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Unreal 3D Artist in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: ZeroLight
At ZeroLight, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Junior DevOps Engineer, you'll not only receive mentorship from seasoned professionals but also enjoy a clear trajectory for career advancement within our dynamic team. Located in a vibrant tech hub, we offer a range of benefits that support both personal and professional growth, making it a truly rewarding place to build your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Unreal 3D Artist in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at ZeroLight or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to ZeroLight.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like ZeroLight.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like ZeroLight that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Unreal 3D Artist in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at ZeroLight.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at ZeroLight and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at ZeroLight
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If ZeroLight uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.