Wolcen Studio hiring Senior 3D Character Artist
Wolcen Studio is seeking a visionary Senior Character Artist to help define the aesthetic of our unannounced dark fantasy multiplayer project. This is a high-impact, fully remote contractor role designed for an artist who thrives in the intersection of grit, realism, and imaginative horror. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, our title pushes the boundaries of real-time fidelity. You will be responsible for bringing to life the denizens of a decaying world—from battle-hardened protagonists to eldritch creatures that defy standard anatomy. If you have a passion for dark fantasy and a portfolio that proves you can master both organic forms and complex hard-surface costume design, we want to hear from you. Job Overview Company: Wolcen Studio Project Theme: Dark Fantasy / Gothic Multiplayer Engine: Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) Job Type: Contractor Location: Remote (Timezone overlap with Central Europe preferred) Experience Level: Senior (6+ years experience) Estimated Compensation: $110,000 – $145,000 USD (Depending on experience and market) The Mission As a Senior Character Artist, you aren’t just a “modeler”—you are a world-builder. You will be a key pillar of our Character Art department, translating haunting 2D concepts into high-fidelity, game-ready assets that perform flawlessly in a multiplayer environment. Key Responsibilities AAA Asset Creation: Sculpt, model, and texture industry-leading character models that adhere to a dark fantasy aesthetic. Artistic Stewardship: Maintain a consistent visual language under the guidance of the Art Director, ensuring all creatures and props feel part of the same cohesive, grim world. Optimization Mastery: Balance extreme visual detail with the performance constraints of a modern multiplayer title. You will create assets that look stunning but remain lean in terms of draw calls and polycount. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with the Rigging and Animation teams. Your models must not only look good but also move realistically, with topological flows that support complex deformations. Technical Problem Solving: Identify and resolve pipeline bottlenecks. Whether it’s troubleshooting a shader in UE5 or refining a bake in Substance Painter, you are a proactive fixer. Mentorship: Act as a technical and artistic lighthouse for junior artists, sharing best practices in sculpting, retopology, and texturing. Requirements & Technical Expertise Wolcen Studio is looking for a specialist who can handle the entire character lifecycle—from a lump of digital clay in ZBrush to a fully optimized mesh in Unreal. Core Technical Skills Portfolio Excellence: A professional portfolio demonstrating mastery of realistic anatomy (human and animal) and intricate surface treatments. Software Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in ZBrush, Maya, and Substance Painter. Experience with Marvelous Designer for realistic cloth simulation is a significant plus. Unreal Engine 5: A deep understanding of the UE5 character pipeline, including material instances, Nanite workflows (where applicable), and LOD management. The “Believability” Factor: An advanced grasp of anatomy and form. Even our most “fantasy” creatures must feel grounded in biological reality. Hybrid Modeling: Exceptional skills in both organic sculpting and hard-surface modeling for armor, weapons, and character-related props. Professional Background Experience: A minimum of 6 years in the game industry, specifically focused on character art. Proven Track Record: Preference will be given to candidates who have shipped at least one AAA title on PC or Console. Hair & Grooming: High proficiency in creating realistic hair using alpha card workflows is highly desirable. Soft Skills: You must be a “team-first” player. You should be able to receive critique gracefully and adapt your workflow to the changing needs of a live production. Language: Advanced proficiency in English is required for technical documentation and team synchronization. Why Join This Project? This is more than just another contractor gig. You will have a hand in shaping a new IP from its early stages. Creative Freedom: While we follow concept art, we value artists who can “bridge the gap”—adding those micro-details and material nuances that bring a character to life. Cutting Edge Tech: We are fully committed to the UE5 ecosystem. You will be working with the latest tools and shaders the industry has to offer. Global Collaboration: Work with a diverse team of veterans from across the globe in a flexible, remote environment that respects your craft and your time. Note on Application: A link to your ArtStation, personal website, or digital portfolio is mandatory. We are specifically looking for “dark,” “gritty,” and “realistic” styles; please highlight relevant work in your application.