Lead Prop Artist

At Turtle Rock, we make the games we want to play. We're dedicated to providing a collaborative environment where our team members feel empowered with the creative freedom to contribute and grow. While we are based in Orange County, CA, we support flexible work arrangements ranging from in-studio, hybrid, to fully remote throughout North America. Join our award-winning game development team and help create our next AAA title.

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Prop Artist to join our team. The Lead Prop Artist will drive the creation of both interactive and static props that bring our worlds to life. You will set the artistic bar for prop quality, collaborate across disciplines, and guide a team of artists to deliver high-caliber assets that enhance gameplay and storytelling. This position requires a balance of hands-on asset creation, leadership, and a deep understanding of modern pipelines within Unreal Engine 5.

Responsibilities

• Lead Prop Art team: maintain consistency across the department, providing direction and feedback, ensuring all team members understand their role in the department, and know what is expected of them
• Lead team meetings and relay important studio information when required
• Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines to support their prop and environment kit needs
• Manage and maintain content both internally and from outsourcing partners
• Partner with outsource teams to provide clear documentation, review outsourced prop work, and provide clear feedback to maintain quality across internal and external teams
• Track prop asset lists, production schedules, and ensure compliance with technical and performance benchmarks
• Communicate progress, feedback, and visual direction across art, design, and technical teams
• Organize task assignments, maintain documentation, and coordinate reviews to uphold quality and consistency
• Oversee integration of props into Unreal Engine, ensuring optimization, proper LOD setup, and adherence to pipeline standards
• Work closely with department manager to provide mentorship and coaching for Prop Art team members, including but not limited to: 1:1s, career development, performance evaluations, and goal setting
• Create high-quality props ranging from hard surface to organic assets, ensuring consistency with the project’s art direction
• Build both interactive gameplay props and static environment assets that seamlessly integrate into Unreal Engine 5
• Develop and maintain efficient workflows for modeling, sculpting, texturing, and engine integration
• Collaborate closely with Environment, Level Design, Technical Art, and Gameplay teams to ensure assets meet visual, technical, and gameplay requirements
• Define and uphold prop art standards, ensuring scalability, performance optimization, and artistic excellence
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of asset pipelines, tools, and best practices
• Playtest with the studio, design, and art teams to iterate based on playtest feedback and player experience

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience as a Prop Artist in AAA game development, with one or more shipped titles on multiple platforms
• Proven leadership experience in mentoring or leading art teams
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a wide range of high-quality props, both interactive and static, with attention to detail and storytelling
• Expert knowledge of 3D modeling, sculpting, and texturing across hard surface and organic asset creation
• Strong proficiency in industry-standard tools (Maya/3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer, Photoshop, etc.)
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine 5 workflows, including asset integration, material setup, LODs, and optimization
• Ability to balance artistic quality with technical performance requirements
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Experience collaborating with external vendors or outsourcing pipelines
• Knowledge of procedural workflows (Houdini, Substance automation)
• Familiarity with scripting or tool development to improve art pipelines
• Passion for pushing the visual quality of props in next-gen game development

Benefits

Some of the benefits and perks our employees get to enjoy, include:

• 100% Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage for you and your family
• 401k Matching
• Student Loan Repayment Plan / College Savings Plan
• Career Improvement Plan
• Flexible Work Arrangements - In-House, Hybrid, and Remote
• Generous Time Off Policy
• Company Events - In-Person + Virtual Events
• Fully Stocked Kitchen + Sponsored Food Trucks

The estimated base pay range for this role is: $135,000 - $180,000 USD