Environment Artist [Fixed Term]
Job description
About the role
The Environment Artist within the Avalanche Studios Group is tasked with the creation of detailed structures and props that form the foundation of the worlds players traverse and interact with. This fixed term position, located in Stockholm, requires the translation of abstract creative concepts into highly realistic and functional environmental assets. You will own the complete lifecycle of these assets, guiding them from initial rough sketches and blockout stages through intricate high-poly modeling and strategic texturing, culminating in their final implementation within the live game world. Success in this role ensures a cohesive visual language is maintained across distinct zones and diverse biomes, directly supporting the project's artistic integrity. Collaboration with level designers and other key disciplines is fundamental, as your work must seamlessly integrate to support core gameplay mechanics and the broader narrative goals of the experience. The position grants a significant degree of creative freedom and personal responsibility, where you will be accountable for your assets from their initial conceptual birth all the way through to their final placement and interaction within the interactive environment. You will be expected to solve complex spatial and technical challenges, ensuring that every element not only looks stunning but also functions correctly within the constraints of the interactive 3D space. Ultimately, your contributions will define the tangible reality of the game's settings, making the virtual worlds feel immersive, believable, and engaging for the player.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Execute the full production pipeline for environment assets, converting creative briefs into detailed, high-fidelity structures and props that populate the game world.
- Interpret project goals and artistic direction to generate initial environment structures, ensuring your work aligns precisely with the intended visual narrative and functional requirements.
- Construct both modular asset sets and highly detailed, unique props, managing the progression from efficient blockout phases to high-resolution, production-ready geometry when the project scope demands it.
- Refine asset geometry and material properties to meet stringent production standards, carefully managing topology and authoring texture maps that integrate flawlessly with the existing technical pipeline.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency and adaptability by mastering the studio's Apex engine and associated custom tools to ensure efficient implementation and iteration of your environmental assets.
- Optimize scenes and asset complexity to maintain a high level of visual impact while strictly adhering to detail budgets, a critical skill when designing dense environments where numerous assets must coexist without performance compromise.
- Verify that every element you create integrates cleanly into the level, conducting thorough checks for readability, composition, and fidelity to the narrative cues provided by the design team.
- Collaborate actively with quality assurance teams, addressing feedback promptly and methodically to resolve any issues related to asset performance, appearance, or integration.
- Maintain robust version control and documentation of all changes and workflows, ensuring a smooth and traceable production cycle for all environmental art created.
- Conduct regular reviews of your work against project milestones, managing your time effectively to guarantee that assets are delivered on schedule and meet the rigorous demands of the development schedule.
- Contribute to the technical review of environment art, providing solutions for pipeline improvements and sharing knowledge with team members to elevate the overall quality of the environment team.
- Support the realization of the game's vision by creating assets that enhance player immersion, ensuring that the physical spaces feel lived-in, logical, and supportive of exploration.
- Participate in prototyping sessions for new environment ideas, helping to quickly block out concepts that can be evaluated and refined before final production begins.
- Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and communication throughout the development process, ensuring that your work consistently reflects the creative standards of Avalanche Studios.
Requirements
- Must possess extensive, demonstrable experience in creating realistic structures and props specifically for game development, with a portfolio that reflects this specialization.
- Time management skills must be rigorously aligned with project milestones to ensure that complex assets are completed and available for the production pipeline when required.
- A comprehensive and professional portfolio is an essential requirement for this application, and it must clearly showcase your artistic range, technical skill, and meticulous attention to detail.
- The portfolio must provide concrete evidence of your ability to successfully manage and execute immersive environmental projects from conception to completion.
- Technical familiarity with the studio's specific engine, tools, and established pipelines is a non-negotiable requirement for the efficient execution of your duties in this role.
- You must be capable of working effectively within a collaborative team structure, communicating clearly and professionally with level designers, technical artists, and other stakeholders.
- A strong capacity for self-motivation and creative problem-solving is necessary, as you will operate with a high degree of autonomy on your assigned tasks.
- You must be willing and able to learn new software tools, techniques, and pipeline processes as they evolve throughout the duration of the project.
- The role requires a commitment to adhering to the production standards and quality assurance protocols established by the Avalanche Studios Group.
Nice to have
The source information does not specify any preferred qualifications, skills, or experiences beyond the mandatory requirements. Therefore, there are no "Nice to have" items to list for this position. All criteria are defined as essential bars for eligibility.
Practical notes
The engagement is a fixed term employment contract based in Stockholm, Sweden. The compensation for this role is structured at 45,000 SEK per month. The fixed term of the contract is specified as 3 years. Candidates must ensure they meet all the outlined requirements, as the role demands a high level of technical and artistic proficiency in environment creation. All practical details regarding the application process, including deadlines or specific submission instructions, must be verified This ensures you have the most current and accurate information regarding how to submit your portfolio and application for this fixed term opportunity.