Senior Concept Artist

About Pocket Worlds:

At Pocket Worlds, we are building bleeding-edge technology that enables creators to develop the next generation of social experiences. Our flagship platform, Highrise, is where millions of people express themselves, engage in shared experiences, and create deep friendships. Over 40 million people have already joined the world of Highrise, and it's growing faster every day. Through Highrise, we are connecting the world through shared community created experiences and realizing the positive potential of the internet.

About the Role

We are seeking a talented and experienced Concept Artist to expand and develop the visual elements for our flagship platform, Highrise. In this role, you will be responsible for creating engaging and trend-forward concept artwork that resonates with our audience, while working closely with our Art Director, 2D artists, and cross-functional teams. You will be responsible for delivering mood boards and references, loose concepts and rendered designs for characters, clothing and accessories.

The ideal candidate will bring a passion for dynamic world-building and an affinity for fashion-forward design. You understand how to capture an audience’s imagination through concept art that aligns with both gameplay needs and brand identity. If you’re excited about pushing creative boundaries in a live game environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Art Director to define the visual direction and style for features, events, and seasonal content.

• Create high-quality concept art for characters, clothing, environments, and props, emphasizing a fashion-forward aesthetic.

• Develop mood boards, style guides, and concept sheets to ensure cohesive design communication.

• Partner with 2D artists, 3D modelers, and cross-disciplinary teams to ensure accurate production of concepts.

• Contribute to brainstorming sessions, offering artistic solutions and creative input.

• Provide constructive feedback, mentor teammates as needed, and foster a collaborative team culture.

• Produce detailed sketches, renderings, and color studies to guide final art asset production.

• Coordinate with external vendors or outsourcing studios to maintain standards and timelines.

• Review, refine, and iterate on assets based on player feedback and stakeholder requests.

• Advocate for process improvements to enhance the concept pipeline's speed and quality.

• Utilize tools like Jira to prioritize tasks, track production, and meet deadlines.

• Communicate project status, potential obstacles, and solutions clearly and proactively.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Illustration, Graphic Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• 5+ years of experience in concept art for mobile or console games, ideally on a live game team.

• Exceptional illustration skills with a strong portfolio showcasing character and environment design, as well as a demonstrable sense of style that resonates with female audiences.

• Advanced knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator (knowledge of Procreate or similar tools is a plus).

• Proven ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and adapt concepts to different creative directions.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a willingness to share ideas and present work across disciplines.

• Self-direction, proactive problem-solving, and a desire to continually raise the quality bar for our product.

  Bonuses:

• Familiarity with 3D tools (e.g., ZBrush or Blender) 

• Experience creating UI/UX mockups, graphic design assets or marketing art for mobile games.

• Motion graphics or animation skills (Adobe After Effects)

• Knowledge of mobile game trends targeted at a female demographic.

Why work with us:

• Impact: Your work will directly affect millions of users around the world.

• Growth: Your growth isn’t capped by a career ladder. Show us you can deliver the impact, and we’ll respond with recognition and reward.

• Elite team: You’ll be a member of a small and elite team with a lot of freedom to go after opportunities you identify.

• Culture: High trust, high intensity, low process and bureaucracy. We pride ourselves in being a Silicon Valley startup with a laser focus on the mission, and we’ll happily remove all roadblocks in your path to success.

• Office and team: Directly work with the cofounders in our office located in Downtown Austin.

Pocket Worlds Core Values:

• Be an Owner (Not a Renter)

• Experts leading experts

• Always be shipping

• Focus on Impact

• Take every unfair advantage

• Love what you do

Benefits (Full Time Employees):

• Competitive Compensation

• Meaningful equity - we’re here to do amazing work, and we share in our wins together.

• Equipment allowance - choose what you need to work at your best.

• Healthcare, 401k (US only)

• Unlimited PTO.

• Education/Training stipend - we've set aside a budget for every employee to continue to learn and grow their skills.

Pocket Worlds is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Any communications from Pocket Worlds will only come from an @pocketworlds.com or @everskies.com domain. If you receive any communications, offers, etc. from any other domain, it is likely a scam.