ArenaNet LLC is hiring: Outsourcing Character Artist - Contract (Unannounced Pro

Overview

ArenaNet is seeking a Contract Outsourcing Character Artist to collaborate with the Character Art Lead and Outsourcing Art Lead in guiding external teams to deliver high-quality character assets aligned with the game's artistic vision and technical standards. This role focuses on supporting the Character Art Lead's direction to ensure consistency and quality across all outsourced character content.

What you'll do

• Following the visual guidance of the Character Art Lead, review and provide feedback on outsourced assets (characters, heads, clothing, weapons, hair grooms, etc.).
• Support external partners by ensuring alignment with artistic direction, technical requirements, and production guidelines.
• Assist in troubleshooting, integrating, and refining outsourced assets to meet in-house quality bars.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (concept, tech art, animation) to ensure smooth asset delivery and implementation.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation, feedback templates, and briefs to streamline communication with external partners.
• Provide prototype meshes with correct scale, pivots, topology, and optimization for real-time performance.
• Partner with the Outsourcing Art Lead and Character Art Lead to build briefs, collect approved references, and prepare outsourcing packages.
• Check assets into Perforce, finalize them in-engine, and make any required visual or technical adjustments.
• Provide artistic support when requested by the Character Lead, including cleanup, polish passes, or material adjustments.
• Contribute to the documentation of existing pipelines and support training of external teams.
• Participate in art reviews and provide clear, actionable feedback to vendors.

What you’ll need to be successful

• 2+ years of experience as a Character Artist in the game industry.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, topology, UV layout, and PBR workflows.
• Expertise in modeling and texturing characters, clothing, weapons, and hair.
• Proficiency with Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and standard industry tools.
• Experience working within Unreal Engine 5.
• Familiarity with game engine constraints and optimization techniques for real-time rendering.
• Experience with physically based rendering and high-quality asset creation.
• Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to provide concise, actionable feedback.
• Self-motivated, with excellent time management and the ability to balance multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of rigging and animation requirements for clean deformation is a plus.
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to take direction from the Character Lead and work constructively with external teams.

Contract details

• This is a one-year contract position.
• Contract position compensation is an hourly rate plus any overtime if applicable. The target hiring range typically falls between the minimum and the midpoint, allowing for growth potential within the role.
• This role is eligible for benefits through a third-party employing agency. Agency benefits may include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and flexible and dependent care spending accounts.
• Hourly Pay Range: $38.91—$56.42 USD

Job details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Design, Art/Creative, IT
• Industries: Computer Games

EEO statement: Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. ArenaNet encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply anyway; you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.