CD PROJEKT RED is officially searching for a talented and technically savvy External Development (X-Dev) Artist to join our Boston-based team. In this pivotal role, you will be a key contributor to Project Orion—the highly anticipated sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. Your mission is to serve as the vital link between our internal vision and our world-class external partners, ensuring that every asset—from a piece of street trash to a high-end cybernetic vehicle—perfectly embodies the soul of the Cyberpunk universe.

As an X-Dev Artist, you aren’t just an observer; you are a shepherd of quality. You will use your artistic eye and deep hard-surface knowledge to guide external studios, ensuring that outsourced assets integrate flawlessly into our proprietary workflows and Unreal Engine 5. If you are a hard-surface specialist who loves collaboration and has an obsession with mechanical believability, we want you to help us build the future.

Compensation & Financial Incentives

CD PROJEKT RED offers a competitive compensation structure that recognizes the specialized nature of external development management. Our salary ranges are data-driven and tailored to the Boston market.

The Mission: Scaling the “Dark Future”

The world of Cyberpunk is vast, dense, and incredibly detailed. To bring Night City to life at a AAA scale, we collaborate with talented partners across the globe. As our X-Dev Artist, your primary responsibility is to act as the “Quality Guardian.” You will ensure that external teams understand not just the look of an asset, but the logic behind it.

Daily Responsibilities

• Strategic Briefing: Create clear, highly detailed asset briefs. These aren’t just descriptions; they are technical and artistic roadmaps covering scope, quality targets, and mechanical intent.
• Artistic Feedback & Review: Provide precise feedback on models, textures, and materials. You will perform “paintovers” and technical critiques to ensure external work meets our rigorous standards.
• Benchmark Creation: Build “gold standard” benchmark assets and procedural kits in Unreal Engine 5 to serve as visual targets for our partners.
• Pipeline Integration: Collaborate with Art Directors, Tech Artists, and Producers to define asset specifications and ensure a friction-less handoff between external partners and internal build teams.
• Problem Solving: Identify technical blockers (topology errors, baking artifacts, or PBR mismatches) and resolve them quickly to keep the production engine running smoothly.
• Consistency Management: Maintain a unified visual language across a massive volume of outsourced assets, from simple props to complex machinery.

CD PROJEKT RED looking for a specialist who understands the “why” behind the “how.” A believable Cyberpunk world requires assets that look like they could actually function.

Technical Requirements

• Hard Surface Expertise: 3+ years of professional experience as a hard surface artist in the games industry.
• Asset Logic: A strong understanding of mechanical function. You should know how a machine would move or how a car door would hinge.
• DCC Mastery: Expert proficiency in industry-standard software. While we accept Maya, 3ds Max, or ZBrush, there is a strong preference for Blender as your primary tool.
• Real-Time Foundations: Strong understanding of topology optimization, UV unwrapping, baking processes, and PBR workflows.
• Engine Knowledge: Experience with Unreal Engine 5 or similar high-end proprietary engines.

Soft Skills & Communication

• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written English skills. You must be able to deliver feedback that is constructive, clear, and culturally sensitive.
• Organization: The ability to track multiple assets across different vendors simultaneously.
• Team Player: A proactive, self-motivated mindset with an openness to feedback from internal stakeholders.

The “Nice to Haves”

• Experience specifically managing or reviewing outsourced assets.
• Knowledge of Nanite and Lumen workflows for UE5.
• Basic 2D skills for rough sketching or overpainting feedback.
• A genuine passion for cars, weapons, and industrial design.

Health, Well-Being & Life as a “Red”

CD PROJEKT RED believe that great games come from healthy, happy people. Our North American benefits package is designed to support your life both inside and outside the studio.

• Full Healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, and mental healthcare.
• Mental Wellness: Free access to counseling, psychiatric care, and wellness webinars to ensure your mind stays sharp and healthy.
• Generous Time Off: 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, and 12 calendar holidays per year.
• Menstrual Leave: One extra paid day off per month for employees experiencing period pain.
• Flexibility: Flexible working hours and a “no dress code” policy—we keep it casual and focused on the craft.
• Family Support: The RED Parents Network provides community and benefits for working parents.
• Office Perks: Our Boston office is dog-friendly, offers healthy canteen selections, and provides an international environment where you’ll work with people from all over the world.
• Professional Growth: Internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and a welcome pack filled with Cyberpunk swag.

To be considered for the role of X-Dev Artist on Project Orion, please submit the following:

1. A Hard-Surface Portfolio: Show us your best machinery, vehicles, or complex props. We want to see your wireframes and texture breakdowns. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
2. DCC Proficiency: Please state your primary modeling software (Blender is highly preferred).
3. Resume: Detail your experience with hard-surface modeling and any experience you have with external vendors.

Deadline to apply: August 31, 2026.