Senior Environment Artist (Unannounced Project) - Contract at Arenanet

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide.

ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine.

We are looking for a Contract Senior Environment Concept Artist to create high-quality concept art for environments, props, and world-building elements. This role will deliver visually compelling assets that define the game world and support gameplay. This ideal candidate is highly skilled in illustration and concept design, self-motivated, and can work independently while collaborating with the Art Lead and other team members.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Produce high-quality concept art and multiple design iterations for environments, props, and world-building elements that align with the project’s artistic vision.
Design and conceptualize immersive environments that support storytelling, gameplay, and world cohesion.
Create storyboards for Combat and VFX teams to visualize weapon skills, abilities, and progression.
Develop dynamic environment mood paintings, lighting studies, color keys, and color scripts.
Ensure all concepts adhere to artistic standards and maintain visual cohesion across teams.
Communicate design intent to stakeholders, incorporating feedback to refine concepts efficiently.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Bachelor’s degree in Art or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
5+ years of professional experience as a concept artist in game development.
Strong foundation in anatomy, shape language, composition, lighting, color theory, and visual storytelling.
Expertise in creating high-quality concept art that conveys the vision and mood of the game.
Highly proficient in Photoshop and other digital tools.
Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and deliver high-quality work on schedule.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and time-management skills.
Ability to give and receive feedback constructively and professionally.
Excellent attention to detail, with a passion for creating high-quality, innovative work.
Proven ability to create both quick sketches/color comps and polished finished paintings.
Ability to communicate ideas effectively through visual storytelling and articulate design choices.
Portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of visual storytelling and high-quality creature concept art, including environments, and world-building.

PLUSES (Nice To Have)

Experience creating art for fantasy-style games.
Familiarity with 3D modeling tools such as Zbrush.
Knowledge and experience playing MMO and other RPG games.

This is a one-year contract position.

Application Deadline: Monday, November 17th by 10am Pacific Time.

This contract position is paid hourly, with additional overtime compensation when applicable. While we’re providing the full range for transparency, our target hiring rate generally falls between the minimum and midpoint of that range.

This role is eligible for benefits through our third-party employing agency, which may include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and flexible and dependent care spending accounts.

Hourly Pay Range

$44.58—$77.56 USD

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. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.