Environment Artist - Collision

Ember Lab is seeking an Environment Artist focused on collision to create powerful, transformative experiences. This role involves blending technical precision with artistic intent to ensure game worlds are intuitive, responsive, and beautifully crafted. The artist will collaborate with Design, Environment Art, and QA to build and maintain level collision in Unreal Engine (UE5), supporting gameplay, visual design, and emotional immersion. The position is a short-term, temporary role expected to last approximately six months.

Must Have

• Build, refine, and maintain level collision in Unreal Engine (UE5) to support gameplay needs and artistic direction
• Use Unreal Engine and 3D software to create accurate, high-quality custom collisions
• Ensure player movement, traversal routes, sound tagging, and navigation flags feel smooth, grounded, and intentional
• Collaborate with multiple disciplines to ensure collision enhances both gameplay clarity and cinematic feel
• Maintain a strong understanding of overall level and gameplay design to inform collision decisions
• Own collision across multiple maps or areas, working efficiently to meet milestones while preserving quality and polish
• 3+ years of professional experience as a game artist, designer, or technical designer
• Hands-on experience implementing collision in a game engine
• Working knowledge of Maya or 3ds Max in a production environment
• Strong technical problem-solving skills
• Ability to self-manage, communicate clearly, and collaborate across disciplines
• Passion for crafting memorable worlds and delivering polished player experiences

Good to Have

• Experience on a shipped AAA or high-quality indie title
• QA or gameplay testing experience

At Ember Lab, our goal is to create powerful, transformative experiences that impact people for a lifetime. Having released our debut game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, in 2021 this journey is just beginning. We’re looking for collaborative team members who share our passion for storytelling and are eager to help us shape the future of Ember Lab.

The Role

We’re seeking an Environment Artist with a focus on environment collision who understands how collision fundamentally shapes player experience, movement, flow, readability, and immersion. This role blends technical precision with artistic intent, ensuring our worlds feel intuitive, responsive, and beautifully crafted.

You’ll collaborate closely with Design, Environment Art, and QA to create collision that supports traversal, complements visual design, and reinforces the emotional experience of our worlds.

Responsibilities

• Build, refine, and maintain level collision in Unreal Engine (UE5) to support gameplay needs and artistic direction.
• Use Unreal Engine and 3D software to create accurate, high-quality custom collisions.
• Ensure player movement, traversal routes, sound tagging, and navigation flags feel smooth, grounded, and intentional.
• Collaborate with multiple disciplines to ensure collision enhances both gameplay clarity and cinematic feel.
• Maintain a strong understanding of overall level and gameplay design to inform collision decisions.
• Own collision across multiple maps or areas, working efficiently to meet milestones while preserving quality and polish.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience as a game artist, designer, or technical designer.
• Hands-on experience implementing collision in a game engine.
• Working knowledge of Maya or 3ds Max in a production environment.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills paired with an artistic eye.
• Ability to self-manage, communicate clearly, and collaborate across disciplines.
• Passion for crafting memorable worlds and delivering polished player experiences.
• Experience on a shipped AAA or high-quality indie title is a plus.
• QA or gameplay testing experience is helpful but not required.

This is a short-term role expected to last approximately six months, with an hourly rate of $30–$40, depending on location and experience.