Principal 3D Character Artist at Eleventh Hour Games
Company: Eleventh Hour Games
Location: Remote
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: Not Disclosed
About Eleventh Hour Games
Eleventh Hour Games is a fast-growing game development studio focused on creating high-quality top-down action RPG experiences. The team values open communication, close collaboration, and empowering creators to build extraordinary games. With the success of their breakout title Last Epoch, the studio is expanding its creative team to continue delivering engaging gameplay and visually rich worlds.
Job Overview
The Principal 3D Character Artist will lead the visual quality and technical execution of character art across the game. This includes heroes, enemies, NPCs, and gear systems that shape the visual identity of the game world. The role requires a combination of exceptional artistic craftsmanship and advanced knowledge of real-time character pipelines.
You will work closely with art direction, animation, design, and technical art teams to create compelling characters that function seamlessly within gameplay systems and real-time engines.
Key Responsibilities
- Create high-quality real-time characters from blockout to final in-engine assets.
- Sculpt and refine characters, creatures, armor, outfits, and related assets with strong anatomy and material definition.
- Maintain a high visual quality bar through hands-on creation and artistic leadership.
- Build clean topology, UVs, materials, and shaders optimized for rigging and runtime performance.
- Develop and improve in-engine character workflows including hair systems, customization, and modular gear.
- Collaborate with rigging, animation, design, and technical art teams to ensure characters perform well in gameplay.
- Align character visuals with class identity, faction themes, and gameplay clarity.
- Support the character art pipeline with workflow improvements, mentorship, and constructive feedback.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience creating character art for games using real-time engines.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating anatomy, costume design, materials, and polished character presentation.
- Deep knowledge of real-time character pipelines including optimization and engine integration.
- Experience with character materials, shaders, hair systems, and modular customization pipelines.
- Ability to create production-ready characters from high-poly sculpt to final in-engine asset.
- Proficiency with tools such as ZBrush, Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, and Substance Painter.
- Strong understanding of anatomy, silhouette, topology, UVs, and deformation for rigging.
- Understanding of gameplay readability and character integration with gameplay systems.
- Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work independently and mentor team members.
Education
A degree in Game Art, 3D Animation, Digital Arts, or a related field is beneficial but not mandatory. A strong professional portfolio demonstrating high-quality character work is essential.
Benefits
- Remote work opportunity
- Collaborative and creative development environment
- Opportunity to work on a successful action RPG franchise
- Career growth and leadership opportunities within a growing studio