Senior 3D Artist

Job Description

As a Senior 3D Artist at Prismatic Studios, you will lead the creation and delivery of high-quality 3D assets across a range of client projects. You will work closely with art leads, designers, engineers, and production to ensure assets meet both visual and technical requirements.

You will be responsible for owning the entire creation process of 3D assets, from modelling and texturing through to implementation in-engine. This includes ensuring assets are optimised for real-time performance, technically sound, and aligned with project art direction. The role requires someone who can work independently, solve problems proactively, and maintain a high bar for quality.

You will be contributing to client R&D projects, where you will help prototype visual styles, develop pipelines, and validate asset workflows within Unreal Engine. This includes exploring new workflows and establishing best practices for production. You will play a key role in maintaining and improving art standards and workflows, and will provide guidance and feedback to other artists where needed.

The position is a full-time on-site contract role based in Auckland, New Zealand. Please note, you must have the right to work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position.

We highly value diversity. Regardless of disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other aspect of your culture or identity, you have an important role to play in our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality 3D assets, including modelling, UV mapping, and texturing, suitable for real-time use.
• Own assets end-to-end, from initial brief through to final implementation in Unreal Engine.
• Implement and validate assets in Unreal Engine, including materials, shaders, LODs, and performance optimisation.
• Ensure all assets meet technical requirements and performance budgets across target platforms.
• Work closely with designers, engineers, and production to ensure assets integrate correctly within gameplay systems and pipelines.
• Review and provide feedback on 3D assets from other team members.
• Identify and resolve technical or pipeline issues related to asset creation and integration.
• Contribute to the development and documentation of art pipelines, workflows, and best practices.
• Support R&D work by prototyping assets, testing workflows, and helping define visual and technical standards.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to other artists where required.

Job Requirements

• 5+ years of experience as a 3D Artist, with shipped titles or significant contributions to commercial or high-quality projects.
• Strong proficiency in Maya for modelling, UV mapping, and preparing assets for production.
• Strong proficiency in Substance Painter for creating high-quality textures.
• Experience working in Unreal Engine, including implementing assets, setting up materials, and troubleshooting issues.
• Solid understanding of 3D art fundamentals, including form, proportion, composition, and lighting.
• Strong understanding of PBR workflows and real-time rendering constraints.
• Experience optimising assets for performance, including LODs, draw calls, and memory usage.
• Ability to identify and solve technical issues related to asset creation and integration.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary production teams.
• Self-driven and reliable, with the ability to manage your own workload and deliver to deadlines.

Education Background:

• A relevant qualification in 3D Art, Animation, Game Development, or equivalent experience.

Additional Valuable Skills:

• Chinese language proficiency. As we work closely with international teams, Chinese language proficiency is very valuable.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality real-time assets.
• Familiarity with rigging, animation, or technical art workflows.