Senior Environment Artist

Your Mission
At Blizzard, we craft genre‑defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations – only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.
We are looking for a Senior Environment Artist to help craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a senior individual contributor, you will be responsible for delivering high‑quality environmental artwork through strong artistic and technical expertise. You understand how to build, integrate, and optimize a wide variety of environment asset types, and how environment layout and set‑dressing support gameplay, readability, and player experience. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on‑site and some work from home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.
Responsibilities
Priorities can often change in a fast‑paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:
- Directly contribute hands‑on environment artwork, taking assets and spaces from concept through final implementation.
- Collaborate closely with the Environment Lead, design partners, artists, engineers, materials, VFX, and lighting teams to deliver world‑class environments.
- Apply strong environment‑art fundamentals to support workflows ranging from early prototyping to final, best‑in‑class execution.
- Build, integrate, and optimize environment assets to meet visual quality, gameplay, and performance requirements.
- Proactively identify risks within environment‑art creation and propose thoughtful, practical solutions.
- Stay current on industry trends, including advancements in commercial game engines, tools, and workflow efficiencies.
Experience
- 8+ years of professional experience creating environment art for AAA games.
- Confirmed experience shipping at least one major title in a relevant environment‑art role.
- Proven experience collaborating within large, cross‑disciplinary development teams.
Knowledge and Skills
- Experience working with AAA game engines, with a strong understanding of asset implementation and pipeline integration.
- Comprehensive understanding of environment‑art creation, including strong proficiency with industry‑standard 3D workflows.
- Strong understanding of physically‑based rendering (PBR) content authoring.
- Ability to create cohesive, readable environments that support gameplay and storytelling.
- Portfolio demonstrating high‑quality environment work, including detailed breakdowns of your contributions.
Key Attributes
- A team‑oriented approach to your work, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership across disciplines.
- The ability to inspire others through enthusiasm for craft, quality, and continuous improvement.
- A self‑motivated, proactive problem‑solver who takes ownership of challenges and outcomes.
Extra Points
- Experience working through early‑development and R&D phases of a project.
- Solid understanding of game‑art disciplines outside of environment art (e.g., lighting, VFX, characters, animation, rendering).
- Experience creating and working with photogrammetry data.
- Strong foundation in 3D composition, form, balance, and color theory.
- Interest in photography and cinema as they relate to environment storytelling.
- Passion for playing a wide variety of video games.
Required Application Materials
- Resume.
- Portfolio showcasing environment‑artwork, including detailed breakdowns of assets and scenes.
Your Platform
Best known for iconic video‑game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre‑defining games over the last 30 years and engages tens of millions of players worldwide across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
Our World
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well‑being for every world.
The video‑game industry is fast‑paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to support business needs.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
- If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $80,800.00 - $149,400.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.