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Character Artist

Blind Squirrel Games· Art
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Aucklandfull-timePosted 1w ago

About the role

Character Artists at Blind Squirrel Games create high-quality character models, textures, materials, and related assets for ports, co-development, and full game development, collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fully onsite Auckland, New Zealand studio.

Responsibilities

  • Create high-quality character, creature, clothing, accessory, and related organic or hard-surface assets using industry-standard software and methods.
  • Translate concept art and visual references into fully realized assets that align with the project’s art direction.
  • Sculpt detailed forms and develop production-ready models with strong anatomy, proportion, and silhouette.
  • Create clean, animation-ready topology that supports rigging, deformation, and platform performance requirements.
  • Develop UV layouts, texture maps, and materials using physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.
  • Create hair and fur using tools such as XGen or comparable workflows, preparing assets for appropriate in-engine rendering and simulation.
  • Integrate character assets into the game engine and collaborate with technical artists, riggers, and animators to resolve visual and functional issues.
  • Optimize assets through levels of detail (LODs), efficient materials, texture atlases, channel packing, and other appropriate techniques.
  • Evaluate character appearance under gameplay and cinematic lighting conditions and collaborate on adjustments.
  • Maintain visual quality and consistency across assigned assets.
  • Collaborate with production to define tasks, establish realistic schedules, and deliver assets on time.
  • Organize and maintain assets within established project directories and version control systems.
  • Iterate on work based on feedback from art leadership and other development disciplines.
  • Identify and help resolve issues affecting the character art pipeline.
  • Create and maintain workflow documentation and contribute to process improvements.
  • Share artistic knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and mentor colleagues as appropriate to your experience.
  • Perform other relevant duties and responsibilities that support company, department, and project objectives.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Art or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • A minimum of three years of industry experience in game development specializing in character art; five or more years is expected for candidates considered for more senior-level responsibilities.
  • Experience contributing to shipped games; candidates considered for more senior-level responsibilities are expected to have shipped at least two titles as a Character Artist or 3D Artist with substantial character art responsibilities.
  • A portfolio demonstrating high-quality characters, creatures, and related assets, with the depth and complexity of work reflecting your experience.
  • Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, silhouette, topology, and character construction.
  • Proficiency in modeling, sculpting, texturing, material creation, and preparing assets for game-engine integration.
  • Understanding of PBR workflows and the technical requirements of real-time character assets.
  • Ability to interpret art direction, receive feedback, and refine work to meet project expectations.
  • Strong communication, problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills.
  • Greater ownership of complex character assets, independent artistic and technical judgment, and the ability to improve workflows and mentor other artists are expected for more senior-level responsibilities.

Skills

Required:Character art pipelineAnatomy and silhouetteTopology and rigging readiness

Benefits

  • Eligibility for benefits and perks may vary based on position, employment status, and location.
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Blind Squirrel Games

We Help You Tell Big Tails

Global game development studio specializing in co-development, full builds, ports, and remasters for mobile, console, and PC. Trusted by publishers for 15+ years. Unity, Unreal, multiplayer, live ops.

game developmentco-developmentportsremastersmobileconsolePCUnity
Company profileWebsite

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