Senior Level Artist

Summary

Join Digital Extremes as a Senior Level Artist and collaborate with the Creative Director, Art Director, Level Design team, and Environment Art team to shape the artistic and gameplay vision of the project. You will champion the artistic integrity of levels, working cross-functionally and mentoring junior artists. Responsibilities include taking ownership of levels from concept to polish, guiding strike teams, balancing gameplay and visual storytelling, creating high-level compositions, and collaborating with engineers and designers. A minimum of 5 years of experience as a Level Artist is required, along with a strong understanding of game engine fundamentals and a portfolio showcasing diverse environments. Effective mentorship and leadership skills are essential. Digital Extremes offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, paid time off, RRSP/Simple IRA matching, an EAP, wellness services, professional development, and work-life balance subsidies.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Level Artist, with proven success delivering high-quality game environment
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of full-level production and to guide others through the process, ideally in a strike team or multidisciplinary group setting
• Strong understanding of game engine fundamentals, including performance optimization, streaming, and asset integration workflows
• A portfolio showcasing a diverse range of environments and an ability to tell compelling visual stories through composition, staging, and lighting
• Effective mentorship and leadership skills; able to support junior artists and collaborate across departments
• Quick to adapt to new software and pipelines, including proprietary engines
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate both artistic and technical goals
• A passion for video games, with a deep appreciation for how environment art contributes to player immersion and gameplay

Responsibilities

• Follow and, when appropriate, help define the art direction in collaboration with the Creative Director and Art Director
• Take ownership of entire levels from initial concept to final polish, ensuring both artistic vision and gameplay needs are met
• Guide and collaborate with strike teams—small cross-functional groups—providing creative and production leadership to ensure goals are met on time and at quality
• Work closely with Level Design to balance gameplay mechanics and visual storytelling, ensuring a seamless player experience
• Use analytical thinking and defined art sets, props, visual FX, and lighting techniques to design visually dynamic and technically efficient environments that support the level’s narrative and gameplay goals
• Create high-level compositions and proxy models using both 2D and 3D art skills
• Provide mentorship to junior artists and assist with peer reviews, offering actionable feedback to elevate the quality of work across the team
• Collaborate with engineers and designers to ensure optimal integration of assets into the game engine
• Evaluate and improve visual and gameplay aspects of each level through tuning, bug fixing, and playtesting
• Contribute innovative and original ideas toward all aspects of the game’s production and development
• Help coordinate tasks and priorities within the level art team to support milestone planning and ensure delivery
• Participate in feedback loops, giving and receiving critique constructively within the art and design teams
• Stay engaged with the broader project scope to maintain alignment with narrative, design, and technical goals

Preferred Qualifications

Practical experience in other areas of game development

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential bonus opportunities
• Excellent benefits and paid time off
• Matching RRSP or Simple IRA
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Virtual access to Dialogue or Guardian, our mental wellness and healthcare services app
• Professional development and career support
• Work-life balance wellness subsidies
• Be part of “Giving Back” through a multitude of fundraising venues at DE
• Employee events and team building exercises