Environment Artist (Senior/Principal) at Bonfire Studios
Company: Bonfire Studios
Location: Orange County, California, United States
Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
Salary: $174,800 – $221,817
About Bonfire Studios
Bonfire Studios is an independent game development studio founded by experienced developers passionate about creating unforgettable player experiences. The studio is currently building its first original IP, Arkheron, a fast-paced competitive PvP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where teams battle their way up a mysterious tower.
The art team at Bonfire focuses on crafting immersive environments that blend visual storytelling, level design, and gameplay mechanics. Their mission is to create a haunting and memorable world that players want to explore again and again.
Job Overview
Bonfire Studios is seeking a Senior or Principal Environment Artist to help shape the visual identity of Arkheron. In this role, you will create high-quality, AAA-level environments and architectural assets that bring the game’s surreal fantasy world to life.
You will work closely with design, lighting, engineering, and other art disciplines to deliver immersive landscapes that enhance gameplay, storytelling, and player experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Create high-quality environment art including architecture, materials, props, vistas, and set dressing.
- Own environment assets from concept or blockout through final in-engine implementation.
- Develop architectural kits that are visually cohesive, performant, and flexible for level design.
- Collaborate with design, lighting, engineering, and other art teams to support gameplay readability and storytelling.
- Balance artistic quality with gameplay and technical performance requirements.
- Research visual references to maintain authenticity and artistic cohesion across environments.
- Contribute creative ideas that shape the visual identity of the Arkheron universe.
- Work autonomously within a small, evolving team while driving environment production forward.
- Ensure environmental assets move smoothly through the production pipeline into final implementation.
- Participate in shaping studio culture through collaboration, curiosity, and craftsmanship.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Extensive experience creating AAA-quality environment art for games.
- At least one shipped AAA game title is strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of architecture, organic forms, materials, composition, color, and spatial storytelling.
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, Substance, and real-time game engines.
- Knowledge of game development pipelines including PBR materials, UVs, lighting, and optimization techniques.
- Ability to balance visual fidelity with gameplay flow and performance requirements.
- Strong communication skills and experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.
- Self-driven mindset with the ability to take ownership of complex creative tasks.
- Passion for learning, experimentation, and continuously improving artistic craft.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive base salary with equity opportunities.
- Comprehensive benefits package.
- Opportunity to work on an original AAA IP from early development stages.
- Collaborative studio culture built on trust, transparency, and shared ownership.
- Daily gameplay involvement to help shape the development of Arkheron.
- Creative freedom within a passionate and experienced development team.