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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

]]><