Senior Character Artist

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

At CD PROJEKT RED, we’ve built our legacy on rich worlds and storytelling from the epic tales of The Witcher to the dystopian future of Cyberpunk 2077. Now, we’re setting out on the next journey: to create a completely new IP, Project Hadar. It is shaped by the same passion, quality, and vision that define everything we do.

Project Hadar is still in its early days. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that’s building a universe from the ground up where your ideas, experience, and creativity can directly shape the project’s vision, identity, and direction.

We are seeking an artist with a strong focus on sculpting and a sharp eye for anatomy, silhouette, and visual impact. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on pushing bold and expressive forms, from the beautiful to the grotesque, and bringing them to life in-game. Join us as a new Senior Character Artist.

We’re looking for people eager to bring their experience into something new and those unafraid of creative exploration and bold decisions — teammates who want to make a meaningful impact on an emerging world.

Daily responsibilities

• Delivering projects from concept art to final effect in the game engine ensuring visual quality and technical performance.
• Owning the full asset creation pipeline, including block-out, high-resolution sculpting, retopology, UV layout, texturing, and shader setup.
• Working hand in hand with the Concept Art department in delivering and expanding on the vision.
• Collaborating closely with Rigging, Animation, Quest, Writers, and Gameplay Teams to resolve both gameplay-related and visual challenges.
• Contributing to the development of pipelines and workflows, including customization systems in Unreal Engine.
• Actively contributing to the evolution of production pipelines and workflows, including the development and support of customization systems in Unreal Engine.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in games production, focused on the character art area.
• Expertise in sculpting, modeling, and simulating, with a solid understanding of anatomy, functionality, and aesthetic.
• Outstanding 3D modeling skills across low-poly, mid-poly, and high-poly workflows, with strong proficiency in UV mapping, baking, and texturing.
• Good background in traditional art skills, understanding fundamentals like proportion, scale, value, color theory, materials, and the ability to communicate them visually.
• High proficiency in Modeling (Blender/Maya), Sculpting (Zbrush),
• Simulating (MarvelousDesigner), and Texturing (Substance Painter) tools.
• Ability to learn new tools and pipelines quickly and effectively.
• Knowledge about garments designs across various eras and genres.
• Team player approach, taking direction, and reacting to stakeholder feedback.

Nice to Have

• Experience working on AAA titles.
• General understanding of Unreal Engine.
• Experience in rigging and skinning assets.
• Experience in mentoring fellow artists.

Artists should include a portfolio to their application.

Additional Information

Working mode

In-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity in Warsaw, Poland. Relocation is required.

Relocation Support

• Relocation package — flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet and family, shipping your belongings. It’s all covered.
• Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you and  tax settlements — all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.
• Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.
• Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday per year, and paid sick leave.

Health & Well-Being

• Private medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care and unlimited rehabilitation to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.
• Life insurance — comprehensive pension and insurance plans to protect you and your loved ones.
• Annual screenings for cancer prevention covered by the company.
• Psychological and psychiatrist care — free mental health support and various well-being initiatives.
• Sports card — gain acce