3D Character Artist

Are you an experienced 3D Character Artist skilled in stylized character creation, clean topology and full‑pipeline asset development?

Join a creative game team building a new stylized title, where you'll work closely with art leadership to design and implement characters, creatures and cosmetics from concept to final in‑game use. This is a contract role based in downtown Toronto, with hybrid flexibility.

About the role

You will be responsible for crafting a diverse cast of humanoids, animals, creatures and character cosmetics. Working across the full 3D character pipeline, you will create game‑ready assets that balance technical limitations with high‑quality stylized art. You’ll collaborate with the Art Director, rigging and design teams to ensure visual consistency and smooth integration into Unity.

What you’ll do

• Create low‑poly character models with clean, animation‑friendly topology
• Build a wide variety of humanoids, animals and creatures in a cohesive stylized aesthetic
• Produce game‑ready assets including modelling, UVs, texturing and basic Unity implementation
• Develop live‑ops customization items such as costumes, accessories and cosmetics
• Maintain stylistic consistency using established art guides, references and direction
• Work closely with art, rigging and design teams to align assets with the project’s visual goals
• Ensure models support rigging, facial animation and expressive silhouettes

What we’re looking for:

Experience

• At least one commercially shipped game as a character artist
• Proven portfolio demonstrating stylized characters, strong topology, anatomy and texturing
• Based in or willing to relocate to the Greater Toronto Area
• Able to work on‑site three days per week
• Legally authorized to work in Canada

Skills

• Proficiency across the full 3D character pipeline
• Strong understanding of human, animal and creature anatomy
• Deep topology knowledge for deformation, rigging and animation support
• Experience with stylized or hand‑painted texture workflows
• Proficient in Autodesk Maya and Adobe Photoshop
• Strong communication and collaborative skills

Nice to have

• Experience rigging or skinning characters
• Ability to sketch concepts or communicate ideas visually
• Traditional drawing or sculpting skills
• Familiarity with node‑based shader tools
• Knowledge of Substance Painter

Working style / behaviours

• Highly collaborative and communicative
• Detail‑driven with a commitment to high production quality
• Comfortable taking ownership of assets end‑to‑end
• Flexible and adaptable within a stylized art direction

Why join

• Help shape the characters of a new stylized IP
• Work with a passionate and supportive art team
• Hybrid work environment with a creative downtown studio
• Opportunity to contribute across all stages of character development
• Collaborative culture with strong artistic direction

If you’re a creative 3D character artist who thrives in a collaborative, stylized game development environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now, or email Joe McKernan - jm@skillsearch.com

Years of experience and salary levels are shown purely as a guide. We will only consider applications from candidates that can demonstrate the skills or experience required for the role.

Please be aware that while we would love to respond to every application we receive, due to high numbers we cannot guarantee this. We do however appreciate any time you invest into the application and will make sure to get in touch should anything in future more closely fit your skillset.