Character Concept Artist (Senior/Principal) Job at Bonfire Studios in Irvine

Overview

What\'s the one game you couldn\'t put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we\'re chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world. Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension.

As a Senior/Principal Character Concept Artist at Bonfire, you\'ll help shape the look and feel of Arkheron by creating characters that are both captivating and believable. This role calls for a strong balance of imagination and design clarity, resulting in bold ideas and then refining them into concepts that elevate every aspect of our game. You\'ll explore anatomy, costume, and prop design to ground your characters in authenticity while capturing Arkheron\'s distinctive tone.

Responsibilities

• Creating concept art for characters, creatures, and props; from loose exploratory sketches to fully rendered designs.
• Developing visually striking and clear character skin concepts that strengthen the narrative and align seamlessly with the IP.
• Partnering with Art Directors, Artists, Animators, and Designers to ensure characters and creatures not only look compelling but function well in-game.
• Collaborating with 3D Artists through detailed paint-overs and feedback to refine designs and solve visual challenges.
• Producing well-researched mood boards and rapid iterations that inspire new themes and directions for the art team.
• Bringing your unique passions and perspective to the broader studio and contributing beyond your core discipline that help shape not just the look of Arkheron, but also the creative practices of the team.

Qualifications

• Bring a stunning portfolio that showcases your strongest work and highlights your range as a concept artist.
• Have built a career creating characters, costumes, and creatures that push the limits of quality and creativity (whether in AAA games or film) leaving players and audiences with designs they remember.
• Demonstrate outstanding draftsmanship and artistic fundamentals, with deep knowledge of costume and fashion design across eras and cultures, a strong sense of materials, and the ability to communicate them visually.
• Can illustrate FX and animation through storyboards, and bring expert-level proficiency in Photoshop to your work.
• Hold yourself to a high quality bar, and proactively adapt to creative challenges to ensure the art always elevates the game.
• Thrive on collaboration, adapting your communication style (written, verbal, and visual) to meet the needs of your teammates.
• Actively seek and apply feedback across disciplines, staying curious about other teams\' challenges and using those insights to strengthen how art supports gameplay.
• Embrace accountability, consistently meet deadlines, and bring a self-starting, self-managing approach that keeps you moving in step with development.

Nice to have

• Experience in a small, senior team where you wear multiple hats and contribute across disciplines.
• Comfort with radical transparency and direct feedback; openness and shared ownership are valued here.
• Willingness to help shape and evolve processes as the team and game grow.
• Playfulness and creativity as essential ingredients in making something truly special.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and influence areas beyond your immediate specialty.

Why Bonfire

• We\'re bold and creative, making tough calls to build a game we\'re proud to play every day.
• We keep fun at the core: we play Arkheron daily to stay grounded and informed by players\' experiences.
• We stay independent with decisions driven by the team.
• We foster a culture of passion, trust, and shared ownership where transparency matters and egos don\'t.

The base salary range for this role is $174,800 - $221,817. Depending on your experience and level, your offer may land above or below that range. Compensation also includes equity, a full benefits package, and additional perks. When we connect, we\'ll happily walk you through the full details.

Want to get a feel for what it\'s like to work here? You can check out more about our culture, team, benefits, and perks at www.bonfirestudios.com. And don\'t worry — anything you share with us in the application process is just for recruiting and won\'t be shared. You can read more in our privacy policy.