3D Art Director

Job Description

We're looking for an Art Director who can define a vision, align teams around it, and deliver consistently at a high bar,across projects, partners, and pipelines.

At Volta, part of Keywords Studios, we collaborate with leading game developers to bring high-quality art to AAA titles. We combine the reach of a global network with the precision of a tight, production-driven studio,where ideas are only as strong as their execution.

The Role

• Define and uphold the visual direction for environment and prop production across projects, IPs, and styles
• Own and elevate the full environment pipeline,from props creation to full level development; including hero props, set dressing, environment kits, foliage, terrain, lighting and simulation
• Guide the creation of environments, props, modular kits, trim sheets, and supporting visual elements with strong attention to function, scale, and storytelling
• Ensure consistency across large-scale worlds, maintaining alignment between artistic vision, gameplay needs, and technical constraints
• Work directly in Unreal Engine 5 to review, troubleshoot, and guide environment production in-engine
• Set clear quality benchmarks and review/approve work before client delivery
• Lead, mentor, and develop environment and prop artists across varying experience levels
• Provide clear, actionable feedback through reviews, paintovers, and in-engine guidance
• Maintain visual consistency across distributed or large production teams
• Collaborate closely with production, design, engineering, and external clients to align on scope, priorities, and delivery expectations
• Support project planning, scoping, and milestone definition with a clear understanding of risk and dependencies
• Balance creative ambition with production realities,timelines, budgets, memory constraints, and engine performance
• Proactively identify production risks and propose practical, solution-oriented paths forward
• Help define and refine pipelines, workflows, and documentation to improve scalability and efficiency
• Partner with pipeline and tech teams to support engine integration and workflow optimization
• Contribute to hiring, team structure, performance evaluation, and artist development
• Support client-facing discussions, creative alignment, and escalation handling when needed
• Contribute to early project strategy, bidding, and feasibility assessments where required
• Other duties as assigned

What You Bring

• 10+ years in the video game industry with multiple shipped AAA titles in a Lead or Art Director role focused on environments and props
• Proven ability to own the full environment production pipeline from concept/blockout through to final in-engine polish
• Deep expertise in environment workflows including modular construction, trim sheets, asset optimization, memory budgets, and engine integration
• Strong hands-on experience with Unreal Engine 5, including in-engine review, troubleshooting, and production guidance
• Demonstrated experience mentoring environment and prop artists with clear, actionable feedback
• Strong client-facing experience working directly with external Art Directors and cross-functional teams
• Solid understanding of production realities,scoping, risk management, and pipeline dependencies
• Ability to operate effectively in a French-speaking work environment
• Strong communication skills,clear, direct, and able to align teams without friction
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in fast-paced production environments
• A grounded, solution-oriented mindset with strong critical thinking and decision-making ability
• Passion for games, with the ability to balance creative ambition with production constraints
• Proficiency with industry-standard tools and workflows, including:

+ Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Blender + ZBrush + Substance 3D Painter & Designer + Unreal Engine 5, Unity + Houdini, Gaea, World Machine + Marmoset Toolbag, SpeedTree + Marvelous Designer + Photoshop

Why Volta

• Work on high-profile AAA projects across a variety of styles and partners
• A collaborative, no-ego environment focused on quality, clarity, and follow-through
• The opportunity to shape teams, pipelines, and creative direction in a growing studio
• Backed by Keywords Studios,global scale, with local autonomy
• A supportive culture that values both craft and people