Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist

Keywords Studios is currently looking to expand its team in Southeast Asia. We're currently looking for an accomplished, enthusiastic and self-motivated Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist to join our team working on an exciting, new and unannounced project. 

Keywords Studios is a global leader providing art services to AAA Publishers. Our work can be seen across many of the top-selling titles on console, PC and mobile. You'll get to work alongside seasoned developers bringing expertise from world-class AAA studios.

This position may be offered as either a permanent or fixed-term contract role, depending on the project's requirements, business needs, and the candidate's experience and level.

These opportunities can be located in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam (Remote), or Singapore (on-site). Sponsorship and relocation are not being offered as part of this package.

A Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist at Keywords Studios:

• Creates high-quality hard surface assets that meet the artistic and technical requirements of the project.
• Works across a range of assets such as vehicles, weapons, machinery, props, architecture, and other complex mechanical or manufactured forms.
• Helps establish the visual and quality bar for hard surface production across the project.
• Works closely with Art Direction, Environment Art, Technical Art, and Design to ensure assets are visually strong, functional, and appropriate for gameplay.
• Provides hands-on guidance, feedback, and mentoring to other artists.
• Develops efficient modelling, texturing, and asset creation approaches suited to production needs.
• Ensures assets are optimised appropriately for real-time performance and platform requirements.
• Troubleshoots technical and production issues related to hard surface assets and workflows.
• Contributes to visual benchmarks and helps establish best practices for hard surface production.

Keywords Studios is currently looking to expand its team in Southeast Asia. We're currently looking for an accomplished, enthusiastic and self-motivated Principal / Lead Hard Surface Artist to join our team working on an exciting, new and ...

• Proven experience as a Senior, Principal, or Lead Hard Surface Artist on a shipped AAA or high-quality game project.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality hard surface modelling across a range of asset types.
• Strong understanding of shape, proportion, materials, construction, and mechanical design.
• Strong knowledge of high-poly and low-poly workflows, baking, texturing, and PBR materials.
• Proficiency with modern 3D content creation tools and game engines such as Unreal, Unity, or proprietary engines.
• Good understanding of optimisation requirements for real-time assets.
• Experience mentoring or providing artistic direction to other artists.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and iterate quickly based on feedback.
• Experience with procedural workflows, scripting, or pipeline improvements is an advantage.