About the role
Company Overview
d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co-development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. The studio is part of the global Keywords Studios Group and works on multiple projects simultaneously.
Project history includes EA SPORTS FC™ 26, Hogwarts Legacy, Exoborne, Mafia: The Old Country, Alan Wake Remastered, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. Global partners include Playground Games, EA, and Archetype Entertainment.
Studios are based in Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear), and Madrid (Spain). The company maintains an anti-crunch mentality, a mentoring ethos, and has been awarded Best Places to Work multiple times by gamesindustry.biz. It won Best Creative Service Provider at Develop 2022 and was nominated in 2023 and 2024.
Position Details
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension. The role is based at either the Daresbury or Newcastle UK studio sites on a hybrid basis. The working pattern requires 3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday, and one additional day of the candidate's choice.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain project art pipelines from inception and throughout the project life-cycle.
- Support the art and animation team requirements and assist with resolving technical issues.
- Create and integrate in-house toolsets and materials/shaders.
- Ensure all artwork hits memory and frame rate guidelines/restrictions through performance profiling.
- Collaborate with artists and provide feedback on improving in-game asset performance while maintaining visual fidelity.
- Take ownership of specific features of the game when required.
- Ensure all artwork adheres to guidelines regarding naming conventions and texture layering structures.
- Keep up to date with industry advancements and technologies and share knowledge with the art team.
- Maintain a library of tutorials, documents, and technical guides to improve efficiency in the art pipeline.
- Proactively identify and solve technical issues.
- Adhere to schedules with a professional and organized approach and provide prompt feedback regarding project concerns.
- Update Jira, communicate progress, and help manage team deliverables to ensure tasks are tackled in the correct order.
- Advise Technical Art Leadership of resourcing concerns and production risks.
- Encourage and mentor other members of the Technical Art Team.
- Demonstrate autonomy, self-direction, and responsibility for work quality and processes.
- Motivate Tech Artists and promote a culture of collaborative innovation.
Essential Skills
- Enjoyment of technical challenges and constraints of real-time game art.
- Understanding of modern rendering, shading, and lighting techniques.
- Performance and quality-focused mindset.
- Excellent working knowledge and proficiency in Maya and/or 3DS Max.
- Excellent in-depth knowledge of Python.
- Excellent communication and organization skills for working within a multidisciplinary art team.
- Evidence of being an enthusiastic leader or role model in an intermediate art role.
- Ability to create materials/shaders and a good understanding of a PBR workflow.
- Excellent understanding of the technical limitations of current console hardware.
- Practical and methodical approach to technical and creative problem-solving.
- Dependability, commitment to projects, and a hunger to learn and improve.
- Flexible and calm approach with the ability to adapt to change.
- Ability to deliver quality work within fixed time constraints.
- Strong knowledge of modern game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
- Excellent knowledge of current game development practices and terminology.
Desirable Skills
- Knowledge of other scripting languages.
- Knowledge of the Maya API and programming in C++ or C#.
- Understanding of various development tools such as Photoshop, Substance, and Houdini.
- At least 4 years of experience working within game development.
- At least three published titles.
- At least two full project cycles in an Intermediate Art position.
Benefits and Perks
- 22 days holiday plus 3 Festive Studio Closure days and Bank Holidays.
- Company Pension Scheme.
- Flexible Working Hours.
- Private Medical Insurance Scheme (BUPA).
- Anti-crunch, professional, fun, and supportive working environment.
- Free Parking.
- Company Socials, Monthly Lunches, and Annual d3t Events.
- Breakout Areas featuring games, a BBQ area, and complimentary snacks.
Recruitment Process
- First interviews are held via video call.
- Second interviews take place on-site.
- Candidates who do not meet every requirement are encouraged to apply as the studio is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.