Assistant Art Director Character Art Specialization

Gearbox Studio, a renowned developer of hit games such as Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, is looking for an Assistant Art Director – Character Art Specialization.

This key role requires a self-driven bilingual (French and English) professional with a strong balance of artistic, technical, and organizational skills. You will work closely with the team while ensuring the artistic vision of the project is preserved.

As the bridge between the Art Direction and the Character Team, you will ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency in production while contributing creatively to character development.

At Gearbox, we offer a flexible and dynamic work environment, including adaptable schedules, competitive benefits, and a substantial company contribution to the group retirement plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Art Direction in defining and maintaining the visual vision for characters, ensuring alignment with the game's overall artistic style.
• Help create style guides and visual references to effectively communicate artistic goals to the team.
• Review and provide feedback on designs, modeling, texturing, and materials to ensure visual quality and artistic consistency.
• Work closely with concept artists, 3D character artists, and animators to uphold technical and artistic standards.
• Assist in character validation at every stage of production, from concept to in-game integration.
• Collaborate with the technical team to ensure asset compatibility within the game engine while maintaining high visual fidelity and performance.
• Mentor and provide feedback to character artists to enhance their skills and maintain artistic cohesion.
• Support the Art Director in organizing team meetings, reviews, and presentations to streamline production.
• Ensure smooth character integration by working with animation, rigging, and VFX teams.
• Work with game designers to develop enemies and bosses.
• Contribute to asset creation for marketing, promotional materials, and cinematics.
• Participate in discussions and problem-solving regarding technical and artistic challenges related to character production.

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Strong expertise in anatomy, form, silhouette, and visual storytelling for character design.
• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard tools: ZBrush, Maya/Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Unreal Engine.
• Deep understanding of PBR workflows, real-time rendering, and game engine optimizations.
• 7+ years of experience in character production for video games, with a proven track record of shipped titles.
• Experience in leadership, managing small teams, or mentoring junior artists.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills to facilitate character production.