Associate Art Director (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Associate Art Director (Gamedev): Leading a team of artists to shape the creative vision of a new unannounced AAA project with an accent on artistic fundamentals and cross-discipline collaboration. Focus on mentoring talent, maintaining visual consistency, and balancing creative ambition with technical constraints.

Location: Hybrid (Guildford, UK) - 3 days per week on-site

Company

A video game development studio specializing in high-quality AAA experiences with offices in the UK and Netherlands.

What you will do

• Refine and sculpt the artistic vision of a new AAA project in collaboration with the Art Director and Head of Creative.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of artists, providing regular feedback and professional guidance.
• Collaborate with UI, Hard Surface, World, VFX, Animation, Engineering, and Production teams to align art with gameplay.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality and consistent artwork across the entire project.
• Communicate art progress and highlight risks to optimize the team's full potential.

Requirements

• Proven experience as an Associate Art Director or Lead Artist on released AAA game projects.
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong understanding of composition, lighting, and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine and industry-standard tools such as Photoshop, Maya, Blender, ZBrush, and Substance Suite.
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills with a track record of developing artistic talent.
• Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities and technical constraints.
• Deep understanding of the game development process and the intersection of art and technology.

Nice to have

• Experience working on large-scale, open-world, or multiplayer games.
• Knowledge of advanced rendering techniques, shaders, and lighting systems.
• Experience developing art pipelines and workflows to improve efficiency.
• Passion for the latest industry trends in game art and visual styles.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible hybrid working model (3 days on-site).
• Private Healthcare Plan including dental and eye care.
• Discretionary bonus scheme, Pension Plan, and Life Assurance.
• Access to cutting-edge hardware.
• Employee Assistance Programme and regular team social events.