Join Romero Games as we develop John Romero’s next First Person Shooter in partnership with a major publisher! This is an unprecedented opportunity to join a thriving independent development studio and work on a high-profile title that will be played by millions of gamers worldwide.

We are looking for a Lead Character Artist to join our growing team on a full-time basis. The Lead Character Artist position requires a solid understanding of current AAA-quality art, consistent character design, art pipelines, and current game console criteria and their limitations on memory and performance. You must understand the value of the production schedule and how to fit project goals within it. This is a hands-on position, and you will set an example through exceptional asset creation, understanding current character art technologies, tools pipelines and interdepartmental dependencies. You will help to implement required production methods to guarantee the highest quality result, in an efficient and timely manner.

This position is open to remote work for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

Create (Sculpt, Model, UV, texture and create materials) AAA quality characters and creatures
Provide strong leadership and thoughtful direction
Provide creative and technical direction to character artists
Set the tone for character creation using advanced techniques and the latest tools
Work closely with Creative Director and Art Director to ensure the visual target is always exceeded and stylistically consistent
Actively participate in technical and aesthetic problem solving discussions for the entire project
Coordinate with tools and technology teams to develop necessary solutions for creating the best characters possible
Review assets to make certain that they satisfy their intended design and are ready for rigging and animation
Create and maintain a transparent and reliable schedule that is well coordinated with production
Mentor artists by providing creative and technical training, guidance, and feedback

Skills

High proficiency with the leading tools used for character creation - 3DS Max, Maya, Z-Brush, Substance, Marvelous Designer, etc.
Excellent High and Low poly modeling skills, as well as demonstrable skill with texture and shader creation within a PBR pipeline
Strong knowledge of human and animal anatomy, materials and garb
Solid grasp of color theory and lighting techniques for quality presentation and the best player experience
6+ years in the game industry with 3 shipped titles and 1 shipped title as a Lead Character Artist
Ability to rapidly master proprietary tools and development pipelines
Ability to be resourceful and come up with creative solutions
Ability to be receptive to art direction and critiques from project leads
Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively coordinate with producers, programmers, designers, as well as artists.
Strong organizational, supervisory and mentoring skills
Passion for gaming

Preferences

Strong foundation in traditional art
Experience with Unreal Engine
A portfolio that demonstrates a range of high quality 3D art, with examples of modeled, textured and lit characters, and a range of hard surface and organic model
Character and prop concepting skills
Samples from previous industry work

Romero Games Benefits

Ownership. Everyone in the company benefits from ownership in the company. Every full-time Romero Games employee is given a stake.
Vacation: Time off for vacation. Four weeks vacation per year + 10 national holidays.
Hybrid Working. Flexible working hours, including work-from-home and remote work.
Bonus Weeks: Bonus week off in your 5th year and 10th year.
Sabbaticals: At 5+ years, should you choose to take unpaid time for a personal project, we will cover 20% of your pay provided that it is in your area of interest.
Premium Health. Premium health benefits, plus extended healthcare coverage.
Fertility Leave: For employees undergoing IVF treatment, surrogacy or other forms of fertility treatment, two days per cycle for recovery or travel.
Relocation assistance. Flexible start dates, relocation reimbursement and assistance in finding housing.
Life-Friendly Policies: We understand that work is one of the things that you do and that life happens. We have a long and consistent pattern of life-friendly management, whether taking your kids to creche, assisting your parents with an appointment, or taking your pet to the vet.
Compassionate Leave / Bereavement. We support employees by offering paid time off during bereavement for immediate family. This includes loss of pregnancy, including the loss of surrogate pregnancy.
Parental Leave and Support. Family-focused benefits include paid maternity and paternity leave and flexible work hours. Most people here are parents. We get it.
Social Events. Regular social events such as pub nights (including online pub nights), holiday parties, barbecues and conferences, with accommodation and travel covered by us.
Expert Speakers. Monthly insider expert seminars with renowned creators such as John Carmack, Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider), Warren Spector (Deus Ex), David Brevik (Diablo), Harvey Smith (Dishonored), Josh Sawyer (Pillars of Eternity), and more.
Bike to Work Programme: Within Ireland, using the Bike-to-Work government initiative, employees obtain a brand new bike and safety equipment worth up to €1,250 for a regular bike, and up to €1,500 for an electric bike. The scheme covers your new bike and gear, saving 52% of the retail price of bike and equipment. https://www.biketowork.ie/