Experienced Games Artist

Permanent full-time on-site in Wellington, NZ – 32 hours per week – $90,000 - $110,000  based on experience. International applicants are welcome to apply, but must keep in mind the visa requirements for immigration.

We're Dinosaur Polo Club, an award-winning video game studio of thirty lovely people making games in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. At Dinosaur Polo Club we value a healthy work-life balance where our dinos can flourish both inside and outside of the studio. We have a creative team, opportunities for growth, and a wholesome, supportive studio environment.

We value diversity and believe that our team should be as varied and wonderful as the people who play our games all around the world. Differences such as disabilities, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity and any other aspects of various cultures and identities are important perspectives that contribute to an inclusive, well-rounded, and engaging work environment. We know we’re creating better games when we have varied perspectives and experiences contributing to them. Women, LGBTQ+ community, Māori and Pasifika  – we want to hear from you!

About the Role:

We are looking for a Senior Games Artist to elevate both our game art and marketing visuals. Using your skills, you’ll create engaging visuals that bring fresh, innovative ideas to our projects.

In this role, you’ll craft standout visuals that reflect the style of Mini Motorways and Mini Metro, addressing marketing challenges and ensuring our art resonates with the audience. And you’ll collaborate with programmers and designers to contribute to various stages of our game development pipeline. Depending on your experience, this could be anywhere from initial concept art to final assets implemented in-engine.

Ideal candidates will have a background in game art, graphic design, UI/UX, and ideally experience in Unity to implement designs effectively.

What you’ll do in this role:

• Contribute to the ongoing art development of the Mini franchise, including Mini Motorways and future titles
• Produce marketing materials, including key art and trailers
• Create high-quality assets such as UI elements, 2D/3D assets, and animations
• Support team members in their growth and work
• Engage in team discussions to ensure the studio’s long-term success
• Execute and support the artistic vision set by the Art Director
• Participate in art reviews, giving and receiving feedback from peers
• Collaborate across departments, ensuring clear communication with non-art teams
• Develop and maintain concept art, visual design docs, and revisualisation materials.

The skills and experience we're looking for:

• Someone who can demonstrate versatility: As a generalist, you’ll be able to work on a broad range of tasks, from working within game engines to create and implement assets, to creating marketing materials such as promotional art and trailers
• Experience: At least 4+ years of professional game industry experience as an artist
• Adaptability in a collaborative environment: We’re an indie studio with dynamic workflows so you’ll need to be flexible and work comfortably with other disciplines
• Proactive problem solving: You’ll be proactive in identifying and solving art-related challenges and able to make sound decisions based on your past experience
• Top notch communication skills: You’ll be fluent in English, with excellent verbal and written communication
• Fantastic organisational skills: You’ll display a high level of initiative when it comes to organisation, documentation and planning
• People might describe you as: Having a growth mindset, team focused, approachable, patient, supportive, reliable and talented.

Software knowledge:

• Experience in the Adobe Suite, particularly Illustrator and Photoshop
• Experience in Unity
• Experience in After Effects
• Experience in Maya or an equivalent software.

Your skills may also include:

• Graphic design
• UX experience
• UI experience
• Programming, Design, QA, Marketing.

What we can offer:

• A lovely bunch of skilled and enthusiastic team members for you to work alongside.
• Generous training allowance for things such as conferences, workshops, courses and self-directed learning.
• Dedicated training days.
• Support structure including regular one-on-ones, feedback processes, and goal setting.
• Team events such as regular social activities, quarterly pot-luck lunches, movie nights at the studio, holiday functions and more.
• Healthy snacks, yummy treats and close proximity to some of Wellington’s best eateries! Plus an impressive array of locally made tea and coffee.
• Quarterly personal discretionary wellness allowance.
• Quarterly bonuses based on studio performance.
• Monthly workplace massages.
• Flexible workplace with core hours and optional work-from-home days.

Keen to apply?

If you believe you fulfil 60% of the requirements and this strikes you as an exciting opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

Click the button below and submit a CV, a cover letter and a portfolio outlining why you feel this would be the role for you. Portfolio is mandatory when you apply.

This position is permanent, full-time and on-site in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand so you’ll either be living in Wellington or be willing to relocate. Relocation packages are available. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.