Real-Time Environment Artist (Unreal Engine)

TL;DR

Real-Time Environment Artist (Unreal Engine/Unity): Creating high-fidelity immersive environments and assets for interactive experiences and virtual-production workflows with an accent on visual storytelling and technical performance. Focus on building believable 3D worlds from blockout to final polish, optimizing assets for real-time engines, and integrating photogrammetry data.

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Salary: $104,300 – $136,900 per year

Company

A world-leading visual effects facility serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries.

What you will do

• Develop believable real-time 3D assets, props, and environments from concept art and photographic references.
• Manage the entire environment pipeline from initial blockout through final art implementation and polish.
• Implement materials and lighting to support visual storytelling and the intended mood of each environment.
• Optimize assets and environments to meet strict performance, memory, and run-time requirements.
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Technical Artists, and Engineers to solve artistic and technical challenges.
• Process and clean up photogrammetry assets for seamless integration into real-time environments.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional experience in game development, VFX, animation, or virtual production.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing using Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, and Photoshop.
• Experience with real-time engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity and a solid understanding of PBR workflows.
• Strong skills in 3D painting (Substance Painter) and sculpting software (ZBrush or Mudbox).
• Ability to take environments from early blockout to final real-time engine integration.
• Must be based in or authorized to work in San Francisco, USA.

Nice to have

• Experience creating environments for VR, AR, or other emerging platforms.
• Proficiency in Houdini, Mari, World Machine, or Quixel.
• Familiarity with Blueprint visual scripting, Python, or MEL.
• Experience with procedural modeling and asset-placement tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work on world-class stories and cutting-edge visual effects.
• Inclusive work environment with a passion for storytelling and innovation.
• Comprehensive medical and financial benefits package.
• Professional development opportunities to stay current with industry trends.
• Collaborative culture featuring regular dailies and creative reviews.