Website CD PROJEKT RED
Lead Concept Artist Job Overview
• Role: Lead Concept Artist
• Project: Project Orion (Sequel to Cyberpunk 2077)
• Location: Warsaw (Relocation required)
• Work Model: Hybrid (On-site presence required)
• Experience: 8+ years in concept art + 2+ years in leadership
• Salary: 29,900 – 41,030 PLN gross/month
• Industry: AAA Game Development / RPG
• Bonus: Long-term incentive program (Stock Options)
Core Role:
Lead the visual direction and concept development for environments, characters, and world-building elements for the next Cyberpunk universe title while guiding a team of artists.
Position Overview
CD PROJEKT RED is seeking a visionary and highly experienced Lead Concept Artist to join our Warsaw studio. This is a defining role within Project Orion, the highly anticipated follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major chapter in the Cyberpunk franchise.
As the Lead Concept Artist, you will be the creative heartbeat of a dedicated team, bridging the gap between high-level art direction and granular production. You will lead a specialized pod of artists in crafting world-class characters, immersive environments, and intricate hard-surface designs that define the dark future. This role requires a master-level artist who is equally passionate about hands-on creation and the professional development of their peers.
Company Description
To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers—this is our mission. CD PROJEKT RED is a global leader in the interactive entertainment industry, known for pushing the boundaries of narrative complexity and visual fidelity. Our culture is built on passion, rebel spirit, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. At our Warsaw campus, we foster a truly international environment where creativity thrives, and every team member has the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on gaming history.
Role Overview
The Lead Concept Artist is a dual-impact role: you are both a master craftsperson and a strategic leader. Reporting to the Art Director, you will be responsible for translating abstract narrative themes into tangible, breathtaking visual designs. You will mentor a small, elite team, setting the bar for aesthetic quality while ensuring that every character and environment contributes to a cohesive sense of worldbuilding. This role is pivotal in maintaining the “Cyberpunk” aesthetic—grounded, gritty, and technologically advanced—while evolving it for the next generation of hardware and player expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Leadership & Mentorship
Team Guidance: Lead, motivate, and mentor a team of concept artists. You will play a central role in building a healthy team culture and helping your peers achieve professional growth.
Support & Feedback: Provide daily artistic support through direction, paintovers, sketches, and constructive feedback to ensure all work meets the project’s high standards.
Setting the Bar: Establish clear design goals and deliverables, focusing the team on achieving high-quality work that serves as a visual North Star for the rest of the production.
Art Production & Design
Visual Development: Create character, environment, and hard-surface designs that emphasize worldbuilding and storytelling.
Core Fundamentals: Apply expert-level knowledge of composition, lighting, color theory, and anatomy to create grounded yet futuristic concepts.
Documentation: Produce clear creative documentation and briefs to ensure alignment across disciplines (3D, Lighting, Level Design).
Ideation: Proactively generate fast sketches, storyboards, and mood paintings to explore narrative beats and atmosphere during early production phases.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Artistic Consistency: Partner closely with the Art Director to define and maintain the game’s established vision and aesthetic direction.
Pipeline Optimization: Proactively solve production risks, improve concept-to-engine workflows, and ensure the team operates with maximum efficiency.
Brainstorming: Lead and participate in cross-disciplinary reviews to ensure that concept art effectively informs gameplay, UI, and environmental storytelling.
Qualifications & Skills
Required Expertise
Industry Experience: At least 8 years of professional experience as a concept artist, with a significant track record of working on at least one shipped AAA title.
Leadership Tenure: Minimum 2 years in a leadership or senior mentorship role within a creative environment.
Artistic Foundations: A solid background in traditional art, industrial design, or illustration. You must demonstrate mastery over form, lighting, and perspective.
Technical Toolset: Excellent proficiency in 2D and 3D design software (e.g., Photoshop, Blender/ZBrush for blockouts, and paintover workflows).
Genre Knowledge: An in-depth understanding of the Cyberpunk genre, sci-fi tropes, and RPG mechanics.
Soft Skills
Communication: Exceptional verbal and written English skills. You must be able to articulate complex creative ideas to stakeholders and remote collaborators across different time zones.
Problem-Solving: A proactive mindset regarding pipeline bottlenecks and a drive to constantly improve the “how” of art creation.
Benefits & Professional Growth
CD PROJEKT RED provides an industry-leading benefits package designed to support the “Rebels” behind our games:
Relocation & Integration
Full Relocation Support: Including flight tickets, a company apartment for the first month, and shipping of personal belongings.
Legalization & Tax: Full assistance with work permits and tax settlements.
Language Support: Polish lessons provided for you and your spouse/partner.
Health & Well-being
Private Healthcare: Comprehensive plans including dental care and unlimited rehabilitation.
Mental Health: Access to free psychological and psychiatric care.
Paid Leave: 20 to 26 days of holiday plus paid sick leave and unique menstrual leave (one extra day off per month).
Parental Support: RED Parents Network, childcare benefits, and summer camps for children.
Perks & Studio Life
Onsite Facilities: A well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, yoga/boxing classes, and a dog-friendly office policy.
Social Culture: Regular studio gatherings, a cafeteria platform with vouchers, and a casual “no dress-code” environment.
Growth: Access to workshops, lectures, e-learning, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Application Process
To apply, please submit your CV and a link to your portfolio. We are specifically looking for portfolios that demonstrate:
Realistic and sci-fi concept art.
High-fidelity mood paintings and key-frames.
3D blockouts, paintovers, and industrial design sketches.
To apply for this job please visit www.cdprojektred.com.