3D Environment Modeler at KRAFTON Montréal

Job Overview

• Company: KRAFTON Montréal
• Job Title: 3D Environment Modeler
• Job Type: Full-Time / Permanent
• Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada
• Work Model: True Hybrid (Remote, On-site, or Flexible within Québec)
• Seniority Level: Mid-to-Senior Level
• Required Experience: Proven AAA Game Development Experience
• Salary Range: Competitive (Commensurate with experience)
• Reporting Structure: Reports to Art Director / Lead Environment Artist
• Industry: Video Game Development (AAA)

Company Overview: Crafting Memorable Legacies

KRAFTON Montréal is a premier game development studio founded on the expertise of industry veterans. We are currently anchored by a monumental mission: the development of a high-profile AAA title based on an acclaimed intellectual property. Set in a dark, enthralling medieval fantasy world, this project is a third-person action-adventure RPG characterized by deep narrative roots and strategic gameplay mechanics.

At KRAFTON Montréal, we don’t just build games; we cultivate an ecosystem where creativity and respect intersect. KRAFTON Montréal studio culture is defined by three core pillars: Memorable Experiences, Professional Pride, and Mutual Respect. We believe that the best art emerges from an environment where team members have true ownership over their work—from the initial conceptual spark through the final polish of production. As we expand our team, we are looking for dedicated artists who wish to leave their mark on a project destined to become a staple of the fantasy genre.

KRAFTON Montréal Role Overview

KRAFTON Montréal is seeking a highly skilled and artistic 3D Environment Modeler to join our world-building team. In this role, you will be a primary architect of immersion, responsible for modeling and texturing the intricate environmental objects that populate our medieval fantasy world. You will work in lockstep with the Art Direction and Design teams to ensure that every asset—from humble village props to massive fortress components—contributes to a cohesive, stunning, and technically sound gameplay environment.

The ideal candidate possesses a rare blend of traditional artistic sensibility and modern technical mastery. You must be comfortable working within the Unreal Engine 5 ecosystem, utilizing cutting-edge technologies like Nanite to push the visual fidelity of our world without sacrificing performance. This is an opportunity to contribute to a project where “close enough” is never the standard, and where your work will be seen by millions of players worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

I. High-Fidelity Asset Creation

• Advanced Modeling: Author high-quality 3D environment assets (props, architectural elements, and set dressing) in accordance with project design documents and art direction.

• Texturing Excellence: Create photorealistic, PBR-compliant textures that reflect the grit and atmosphere of a medieval fantasy setting, utilizing industry-standard tools like Substance Painter.

• Baking & Optimization: Execute flawless high-poly to low-poly baking workflows, ensuring that every detail from a ZBrush sculpt is captured efficiently in the game-ready mesh.

• Collision Geometry: Design and implement accurate collision models to ensure seamless player interaction and physics stability within the game world.

II. Engine Integration & Technical Implementation

• UE5 Pipeline: Take full ownership of the integration process, importing models and textures into Unreal Engine 5 and configuring them within the engine’s architecture.

• Performance Tuning: Optimize assets to meet strict technical guidelines, identifying and fixing geometry or texture-related issues that could impact framerate or memory overhead.

• Nanite Workflow: Leverage Nanite technology to maximize geometric detail while maintaining optimized draw calls and processing efficiency.

III. Collaborative World-Building

• Artistic Alignment: Collaborate closely with Level Artists and the Art Director to ensure that environment assets support the narrative and aesthetic goals of each specific biome or location.

• Cross-Disciplinary Synergy: Work alongside Game Designers and Animators to ensure that environmental objects support gameplay functionality, hitboxes, and potential interactive elements.

• Iterative Design: Proactively participate in art reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the collective quality of the project.

Required Qualifications

Technical Expertise

• DCC Proficiency: Solid, professional-level knowledge of major 3D modeling software suites, including 3ds Max, Maya, or Blender.

• Sculpting Mastery: Proven experience with ZBrush for high-resolution organic and hard-surface sculpting.

• Texturing Stack: Advanced skills in Substance Painter and a deep understanding of the Physically Based Rendering (PBR) workflow.

• Baking Techniques: A comprehensive understanding of “baking” methodologies (Normal maps, AO, Curvature, etc.) to bridge the gap between high-poly detail and low-poly performance.

Artistic Foundations

• Fundamentals of Art: A deep-seated understanding of form language, silhouette, color theory, and composition. You should be able to look at a concept and understand not just what to build, but how it fits into the weight and history of a medieval world.

• AAA Standards: A proven ability to create stunning, high-end visuals that meet the benchmarks of current-generation AAA gaming.

Professional Competencies

• Resourcefulness: The ability to find creative solutions to technical or artistic hurdles.

• Adaptability: Comfort working in a dynamic studio environment where technical targets and creative visions evolve.

• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications & “Pluses”

• Unreal Engine 5 Specialist: Direct experience with UE5’s specific features, particularly Nanite and Lumen.

• Fantasy Genre Passion: A personal interest in medieval history, architecture, or fantasy literature/gaming.

• Pipeline Innovation: Experience in identifying and recommending workflow improvements to the environment art pipeline.

Benefits and Perks: Empowering Your Life

KRAFTON Montréal is committed to providing world-class working conditions that empower our team members both professionally and personally.

• True Hybrid Flexibility: We trust our team. You choose your work environment: 100% remote (within the province of Québec), a few days in-studio, or full-time on-site at our Montréal location.

• Financial Security: Generous employer contributions to the RRSP program to help secure your future.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Premium health and dental coverage from day one, including telemedicine services for you and your family.

• Time to Recharge: A generous allotment of personal and wellness days in addition to standard vacation time, acknowledging the importance of mental health and work-life balance.

• Sustainable Commuting: An OPUS Grant (public transit subsidy) to encourage green commuting for those visiting the studio.

• Inclusive Culture: A workplace that proactively prohibits discrimination and harassment, fostering a safe space for all identities, backgrounds, and orientations.

Application Process 

To be considered for this role, candidates must follow a specific submission protocol:

1. Portfolio Requirement: A link to your digital portfolio must be clearly included in your CV. Applications without a portfolio showcasing high-fidelity 3D environment art will not be reviewed.

2. Legal Status: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada and must be residents (or willing to relocate and be based) in the province of Québec.

3. Review Process: Our art leadership team will review your portfolio for artistic range, technical cleanliness (topology/UVs), and your ability to match a specific art direction.

KRAFTON Montréal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We look forward to seeing how your vision can help shape our medieval world.