Job Description

How to Apply

A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file (because of system limitations. Please include a link to your portfolio in your resume or cover letter.

Summary

The Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan is seeking a qualified Environmental Artist with experience in developing 3D environment layouts for immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Virtual Production stages. The Environmental Artist will work closely with UX designers, 3D Artists, developers and faculty to deliver production ready 3D environments for XR enabled online courses. The XR Environmental Artist will report to the Director of the XR Initiative.

Who We Are

The Center for Academic Innovation is where creativity, excellence, and the University of Michigan’s aspirations for societal impact combine to reimagine the future of higher education. Through curricular innovation, educational data and research, and educational technology, we position U-M as a global leader in academic innovation to create and inspire change in higher education and to reinforce an engaged and informed society.

About The XR Team

The XR team works directly with faculty innovators to conceive and build extended reality experiences that transform and enhance education while also focusing on how this groundbreaking technology can be utilized by all learners and available at scale. A core part of our mission is to make XR technology more accessible on campus and encourage its use in higher education. Our team builds virtual worlds using state of the art game engines and 3D modeling to create augmented, virtual and mixed reality experiences that can be utilized in courses. We fund extended reality learning projects that immerse students as creators and learners with these advanced technologies. For more information, please visit our website: Academic Innovation.

Responsibilities*

• Rapid prototyping of environment layouts for client feedback
• Delivering production ready environment layouts for use in Virtual Production with an LED stage. Environments can be as diverse as photorealistic open fields, urban centers and outer space
• Working with 3D artists to create and modify 3D assets for use in environment design and layout
• Working with UX designers, 3D artists and developers on the team to understand and deliver key requirements for XR enabled MOOCs
• Lighting a 3D scene to set a particular mood
• Enhancing the environment with visual effects
• Working independently in a multicultural and collaborative environment
• Working in an environment with rapidly changing requirements and priorities
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
  

Required Qualifications*

• Degree or at least 2 years experience in Human Computer Interaction, User Experience Design, 3D Design, Animation and Visual effects, Architecture, Film and Digital Media, Graphic Design and/or Research, Computer Science, or related fields
• Strong portfolio with high quality ideation and design, 3D modeling, environment design and/or animation. A portfolio is required for the job application
• 2 or more years of experience with at least one 3D modeling/Animation Software or 3D game engine such as (3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, Unity, Unreal or other relevant software)
• Excellent creative and artistic skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent time management skills
  

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience with
• Image editing software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or other relevant software)
• 3D Modeling/Animation software (3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D or other relevant software)
• Experience using Unreal Engine or Unity
• Experience using a project management solution such as JIRA or Trello.
• Knowledge of Virtual Production and in camera VFX
• Working in teams to support large projects
• An eye for composition, realism, texture, color, and lighting
• Experience with video and/or film production
  
Additional Information

Please Note: This is a 2 year term limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.

Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

This is not a remote position and any adjustments to a standard in-person schedule will be discussed during the hiring process.

The salary for this position will be based upon the selected candidate’s education and experience.

Excellent benefits are available, for details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Learning and working in environments designed for equity and inclusivity are necessary for the U-M community to make progress on solving the problems that matter most to society. In addition to collaborating with faculty and staff on projects that explicitly focus on DEI, the Center for Academic Innovation uses inclusive design processes in all of our work. All interested applicants, including those from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, are encouraged to apply.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.

Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine. This includes those working remotely. More information on this new policy is available on the Campus Blueprint website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.