Senior Level Artist

Job description

ABOUT THIS POSITION

Digital Extremes is looking for a Senior Level Artist to join our team! In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with the Creative Director, Art Director, Level Design team, and Environment Art team to help shape and execute the artistic and gameplay vision of the project. You’ll ensure that each level delivers on the game’s visual and technical goals while balancing design needs and creative direction.

As a Senior Level Artist, you will champion the artistic integrity of your levels from start to finish, working cross-functionally with various departments. Practical experience in other areas of game development is a plus.

You’ll also support junior Level Artists through mentorship, offering guidance to help them grow professionally and artistically. Additionally, you may assist in scheduling and team coordination, helping to keep production aligned with key narrative and delivery milestones. A strong understanding of both your individual contributions and the broader project vision is key to success in this role.

We’re looking for someone with genuine enthusiasm for video games and strong communication skills. A portfolio is required that demonstrates your expertise in composition, colour theory, architecture, and storytelling, as well as your ability to explain the artistic and gameplay intent behind your work.

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

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

ABOUT DIGITAL EXTREMES

Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes ranks as one of the world’s top independent video game development studios. Originating with the co-creation of Epic Games’ multi-million unit selling Unreal® franchise including Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Digital Extremes went on to develop Dark Sector®, BioShock® for the PlayStation®3, the BioShock 2 multiplayer campaign, and The Darkness® II. The studio has reached its greatest critical and commercial success with the free-to-play action game, Warframe®, boasting a global community of 75 million registered players on PC, PS4™, PS5™, Xbox One™, Xbox Series X/S™, Nintendo Switch™, and iOS™. The studio’s most recently announced project is the much anticipated Soulframe®, an open-world action-fantasy MMORPG title that is currently under development.

Digital Extremes is headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, and is proud to be selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, achieving this recognition for the last ten years in a row.

For more information and exciting news related to Digital Extremes, please visit www.digitalextremes.com.

WHY WORK AT DIGITAL EXTREMES

Our culture is centered on providing great opportunities to our employees so that everyone feels they are making a meaningful impact. Developing new and existing talent is our long-term focus. We are honored that our work environment has been consistently recognized as one of “Canada’s Top 100 Employers”. We summon you to join our elite team!

The rewards of a career with Digital Extremes include:

• 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

Please note, some benefits may be subject to eligibility for employees.

JOIN US

Digital Extremes is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment process. We thank you for your interest, however, only those candidates selected for the next steps in the hiring process will be contacted.