Senior/Lead 3D Artist

Are you an experienced 3D Artist ready to take the lead on visually stunning game projects in a vibrant New Zealand studio?

An exciting opportunity is available for a Senior or Lead 3D Artist to join a passionate and growing team working on an original IP. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment, combining technical expertise with creative vision to deliver world-class visuals.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in New Zealand, offering the chance to collaborate closely with a cross-disciplinary team in an inspiring and inclusive studio environment.

In this role you will:

• Take ownership of 3D art pipelines, workflows, and asset creation across environments, props, and characters

• Set visual benchmarks and ensure consistent quality across all 3D assets

• Work collaboratively with art, design, and tech teams to maintain artistic vision and optimise performance

• Lead by example – providing feedback, mentorship, and support to junior and mid-level artists

• Solve technical challenges and evolve production processes as the project scales

• Contribute to the studio’s creative direction by sharing ideas, reference, and visual development work

• Review and polish assets to meet AAA-quality standards and project requirements

What they’re looking for:

• Extensive experience in 3D art for games, ideally including a shipped title in a senior or lead capacity

• Deep knowledge of asset creation pipelines, including modelling, texturing, UV mapping, and optimisation

• Proficiency in tools such as Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Suite, and Unreal Engine

• A strong artistic eye – with an understanding of form, composition, and storytelling through visuals

• Experience balancing creative direction with technical constraints

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to give and receive feedback constructively

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with strong organisational skills

Bonus if you bring:

• Experience working on stylised or visually distinctive IPs

• Familiarity with shader creation or technical art workflows

• Background in mentoring or leading a small art team

• A strong portfolio showcasing both technical range and artistic flair

If you're passionate about building captivating game worlds and want to help shape a bold new creative vision, this could be your perfect next step.

For more information, get in touch with Jay at Skillsearch: jrm@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.