Art Director
Atome, Santa Clara, CA, United States
Full-time | Game Development | Game Dev | Santa Clara, California, USA
Posted on 2026-03-13
About the Role As our Art Director, you will be the creative anchor and the architect of our production pipeline. This is not a "pure management" role; we are looking for a hands‑on visionary who can blend high‑end aesthetics with mobile market insights. You will define the "Art Bible," integrate AI‑native workflows to 10x our output, and build a modular, industrial‑grade production system that ensures uncompromising quality from internal teams and external vendors alike.
Key Responsibilities
Define and iterate the project’s visual identity by blending high-level aesthetics with deep insights into the 4X/SLG mobile market.
Lead the evolution of the game’s style to ensure it resonates with global audiences and stands out in a competitive UA (User Acquisition) landscape.
Style Governance (The Art Bible)
Author and maintain a comprehensive Art Bible and style guides, defining clear standards for color palettes, silhouettes, materials, and proportions.
Ensure all visual directions are "production-ready," providing concrete visual benchmarks for every creative discipline.
Establish modular production rules to ensure efficiency, such as standardized character poly‑counts, texture specifications, and material channel conventions.
Design a scalable asset architecture that allows for rapid iteration and high‑volume content production without technical debt.
Quality Control & Standardization
Develop rigorous Quality Checklists (Self‑check, Delivery, and Engine‑verification) to eliminate rework and prevent "style drift."
Standardize the outsourcing pipeline, ensuring external vendors can flawlessly align with internal quality bars and technical requirements.
AI‑Native Workflow Architecture
Lead the integration of Generative AI tools into the art department to accelerate concepting, texturing, and asset prototyping.
Establish best practices for AI‑assisted art production, maintaining a balance between cutting‑edge efficiency and artistic soul.
Requirements
Proven Leadership:
8+ years of art leadership experience in the mobile gaming industry, preferably within the 4X/SLG, or high‑fidelity strategy genres.
Aesthetic Mastery:
A world‑class portfolio demonstrating a strong sense of composition, color theory, and the ability to define a unique "Western Cartoon" or "Stylized Military" aesthetic.
Industrial Mindset:
Deep understanding of the technical constraints of mobile engines (Unity) and the ability to translate "pretty pictures" into optimized, shippable game assets.
AI‑Forward Thinking:
Strong motivation to explore and integrate cutting‑edge AI tools into the production pipeline to bypass traditional bottlenecks.
Extreme Ownership:
A pragmatic problem‑solver who can navigate a flat team structure and take full responsibility for the visual quality and delivery timelines.
Systemic Communication:
Ability to articulate complex visual concepts into clear, actionable technical requirements for artists and engineers.
*Please note that an Art Test will be required following the initial HR screening.
Preferred Qualifications
Engine Proficiency:
Advanced hands‑on experience within Unity, including custom shaders, lighting setups, and post‑processing.
Global Market Insight:
A history of launching successful mobile titles in Western markets with a keen eye for what drives player engagement in SLG titles.
Vendor Management:
Experience managing high‑volume external art pipelines and establishing feedback loops that drive quality improvement.
Employee Benefits
Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with employer match
Life and disability insurance
Generous Time Off
Free daily lunch and complimentary snacks
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Posted on 2026-03-13
About the Role As our Art Director, you will be the creative anchor and the architect of our production pipeline. This is not a "pure management" role; we are looking for a hands‑on visionary who can blend high‑end aesthetics with mobile market insights. You will define the "Art Bible," integrate AI‑native workflows to 10x our output, and build a modular, industrial‑grade production system that ensures uncompromising quality from internal teams and external vendors alike.
Key Responsibilities
Define and iterate the project’s visual identity by blending high-level aesthetics with deep insights into the 4X/SLG mobile market.
Lead the evolution of the game’s style to ensure it resonates with global audiences and stands out in a competitive UA (User Acquisition) landscape.
Style Governance (The Art Bible)
Author and maintain a comprehensive Art Bible and style guides, defining clear standards for color palettes, silhouettes, materials, and proportions.
Ensure all visual directions are "production-ready," providing concrete visual benchmarks for every creative discipline.
Establish modular production rules to ensure efficiency, such as standardized character poly‑counts, texture specifications, and material channel conventions.
Design a scalable asset architecture that allows for rapid iteration and high‑volume content production without technical debt.
Quality Control & Standardization
Develop rigorous Quality Checklists (Self‑check, Delivery, and Engine‑verification) to eliminate rework and prevent "style drift."
Standardize the outsourcing pipeline, ensuring external vendors can flawlessly align with internal quality bars and technical requirements.
AI‑Native Workflow Architecture
Lead the integration of Generative AI tools into the art department to accelerate concepting, texturing, and asset prototyping.
Establish best practices for AI‑assisted art production, maintaining a balance between cutting‑edge efficiency and artistic soul.
Requirements
Proven Leadership:
8+ years of art leadership experience in the mobile gaming industry, preferably within the 4X/SLG, or high‑fidelity strategy genres.
Aesthetic Mastery:
A world‑class portfolio demonstrating a strong sense of composition, color theory, and the ability to define a unique "Western Cartoon" or "Stylized Military" aesthetic.
Industrial Mindset:
Deep understanding of the technical constraints of mobile engines (Unity) and the ability to translate "pretty pictures" into optimized, shippable game assets.
AI‑Forward Thinking:
Strong motivation to explore and integrate cutting‑edge AI tools into the production pipeline to bypass traditional bottlenecks.
Extreme Ownership:
A pragmatic problem‑solver who can navigate a flat team structure and take full responsibility for the visual quality and delivery timelines.
Systemic Communication:
Ability to articulate complex visual concepts into clear, actionable technical requirements for artists and engineers.
*Please note that an Art Test will be required following the initial HR screening.
Preferred Qualifications
Engine Proficiency:
Advanced hands‑on experience within Unity, including custom shaders, lighting setups, and post‑processing.
Global Market Insight:
A history of launching successful mobile titles in Western markets with a keen eye for what drives player engagement in SLG titles.
Vendor Management:
Experience managing high‑volume external art pipelines and establishing feedback loops that drive quality improvement.
Employee Benefits
Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with employer match
Life and disability insurance
Generous Time Off
Free daily lunch and complimentary snacks
#J-18808-Ljbffr