Job Description

Description

Job Description:

Leidos is in search of an experienced Character Artist to join our studio with an existing team of artists, programmers, and designers in creating “cutting edge” Virtual Reality (VR) and PC advanced training for the United States Air Force. Our client is a visionary leader that is bringing VR and digital training to the forefront of Air Force technical and specialty training for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) analyst and operators around the world. This is a unique opportunity to leverage your proven AAA industry experience to create stunning photorealistic digital art for the U.S. Air Force.

As a Character Artist, you will model and texture photorealistic characters for use in real-time virtual training applications. You will support a digital art team focused on photorealistic environments and characters for both PC and VR. This is a unique opportunity where your knowledge and expertise will enhance our team’s capabilities each day while also serving as a subject matter expert in techniques, methods, and best practices pioneered by Epic Games and the Unreal Engine. We are looking for your creativity, experience, and positive energy to create the Defense industries most immersive and comprehensive virtual training. Projects include building “digital twins” of military aircraft, vehicles, military hardware and replicating physical environments.

Responsibilities

• Create high-poly source meshes using a combination of Zbrush and Maya (or equivalent software).
• Create optimized, real-time meshes with efficient UV layouts and topology for animation.
• Create high quality textures and materials using Substance Suite and Photoshop.
• Final setup, integration, and optimization of character assets within Unreal Engine.
  

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience as a Character Artist in games, films or related industries.
• Bachelor’s degree or (4 years of equivalent industry experience and training in lieu of degree).
• Provide online portfolio showcasing photorealistic, textured characters in high and low poly along with supporting gear, accessories, props, etc.
• Expertise in human anatomy, clothing/costume design, and proper topology for animation pipelines.
• Strong skillset in real-time hair creation using sculpted cards, grooms, etc.
• Deep understanding of Unreal’s Material editor with heavy emphasis on photorealistic characters (SSS, Hair, Eyes)
• Extensive knowledge of Unreal’s character tools including Control Rig, Skeletal Mesh Editor, and the Blueprint system for building modular character types.
• Experience creating modular character meshes for customization of body, head, clothing as well as building Unreal master materials for infinite color combinations.
• Credit as a Character Artist on at least one shipped product using Unreal Engine.
• Ability to take creative direction and implement feedback.
• Experience working in an iterative, agile environment.
• Good communication, organizational, time management and interpersonal skills.
• Motivated, self-directed, personable with strong verbal communication skills.
• Experience using Perforce for source control and JIRA for task management.
• Strong work ethic that strives for continuous process improvement and production efficiency.
• Ability to obtain security clearance (requires US citizenship).
• Ability to work in a dynamic cross-functional environment in a 100% teleworking environment.
  Preferred Qualifications
  
  • Experience working with photogrammetry or similar 3D scanning techniques.
  • Experience crafting hair using Maya’s XGen grooming system or similar techniques.
  • Experience with Maya rigging and skin weighting.
  • Passionate interest in MetaHumans as the future of real-time character development.
  • We are looking for multi-talented artists (generalists) who are comfortable shifting skillsets as project priorities change. Additional skills in Hard-Surface Modeling, Animation, VFX, UI, or Lighting are a huge plus.
    
  External Referral Bonus
  
  Eligible
  
  External Referral Bonus $:
  
  $2,000
  
  Potential For Telework
  
  Yes, 100%
  
  Clearance Level Required
  
  None
  
  Travel
  
  Yes, 10% of the time
  
  Pay Range
  
  Pay Range $57,200.00 - $88,000.00 - $118,800.00
  
  #Remote