About the role
Company Overview
Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is a crowdfunded company and one of the largest global independent studios. Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, the studio is dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA games. CIG prides itself on thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity, developing ground-breaking technology, and raising the bar for the gaming industry and its community of backers. The company values exceptional diverse talent and fosters a culture of working with enthusiastic over-achievers.
About the Role
As the universe expands, CIG is seeking visionary Creature Artists to help develop the extraordinary beings that inhabit it. You will be responsible for designing, sculpting, and texturing highly detailed creatures that push the boundaries of visual storytelling and gameplay design. You will work closely with concept artists, animators, and tech artists to breathe life into high-quality sci-fi creatures.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Art Directors and Concept Artists to develop unique creature designs that fit the game’s artistic vision and narrative.
- Translate 2D concepts into 3D sculpts and models while contributing creative input for design improvements.
- Create high-resolution digital sculpts of creatures, focusing on anatomy, form, and surface detail.
- Build production-ready low-poly models optimised for real-time engines.
- Develop textures, shaders, and materials that bring skin, fur, scales, feathers, or other surfaces to life.
- Ensure consistency with the overall look of the project’s art direction.
- Work with Animators and Riggers to ensure models deform correctly and support expressive creature movement.
- Ensure assets are properly integrated into the engine, maintaining performance budgets and visual quality.
Required Qualifications
- Strong portfolio demonstrating creature design, anatomy knowledge, and sculpting/texturing skills.
- Proficiency in industry-standard 3D software (Zbrush, Maya, etc).
- Expertise with texturing tools (Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop).
- Understanding of anatomy, animal physiology, and biomechanics.
- Familiarity with real-time engines (Unreal, Unity).
- Strong collaboration and communication skills to work across departments.
Nice to Have
- Experience with grooming and hair/fur systems (XGen, Ornatrix).
- Knowledge of creature rigging and deformation for animation.
- Background in traditional art, life drawing or sculpting.
Diversity Statement
CIG is a global company committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the company strives to build a team that represents all walks of life. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and differences are recognized as a special asset to the work environment.
Fraud Statement
CIG is aware of fraudulent job offers alleging to be from the company.
- CIG does not ask for personal information such as bank account numbers or identification numbers through social media or chat-based apps.
- CIG does not request or send money for the purchase of business equipment.
- If fraud is suspected, report it to local authorities and reach out to info@cloudimperiumgames.com with any information.