World Builder

2 Months ago • All levels

About the job

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.


We are seeking a skilled and creative World Builder to bring our game worlds to life. The ideal candidate will have a strong artistic vision, a keen eye for detail, and the technical skills necessary to create compelling and visually appealing game environments. As a World Builder, you will collaborate with designers, artists, and programmers to design and construct engaging levels and immersive worlds that enhance the overall gaming experience.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Oversee greybox level development in accordance with narrative and design specifications.
  • Design, model, and texture game environments, levels, and worlds using industry-standard software and tools.
  • Collaborate with the design team to create visually stunning and cohesive game worlds that align with the overall artistic vision of the project.
  • Implement lighting, atmospherics, and other environmental effects to enhance the mood and atmosphere of game levels.
  • Optimize assets and environments for performance without sacrificing visual quality.
  • Work closely with the programming team to ensure seamless integration of assets and environments into the game engine.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to level design and world building.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to continuously improve the quality of our game environments.

Requirements:

  • Proven experience as a Level Designer, World Builder, or similar role in the gaming industry.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing your ability to create high-quality game environments and levels.
  • Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.
  • Experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar.
  • Strong understanding of art fundamentals, including composition, color theory, and lighting.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and communicate effectively.
  • Passion for video games and a deep understanding of what makes game environments engaging and immersive.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with procedural generation tools and techniques.
  • Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, C#) for tool development and automation.
  • Familiarity with version control systems such as Git or Perforce.
  • Previous experience working on AAA titles or large-scale game projects.


Location

  • Onsite or Hybrid


To apply: 

  • Please include a portfolio. 


The standard annual base salary range for this role in the U.S. is $90,000 - $125,000 USD. Actual pay will vary depending on experience, qualifications, performance and location. The base salary range for locations outside of the U.S. will be adjusted according to location.

About The Company

Founded in 2009 by brothers Josh and Mike Grier as an animation and digital content creator, Ember Lab’s vision is to create immersive and evocative stories with characters that resonate and worlds that inspire. Ember Lab originally specialized in character development for advertising. The studio’s commercial work includes ad campaigns and animated shorts developed from concept to completion for The Coca-Cola Company, Hisense, and Major League Baseball.


The company’s culture is based on a highly collaborative environment that melds the creative and production processes. In the studio, the lines between technical and artistic development tend to disappear as teams focus on delivering fantastic and innovative experiences. 


Ember Lab produced the award-winning short film, Dust, and the acclaimed Majora’s Mask fan film, Terrible Fate. The success of their commercial and independent projects led them to develop their passion project and first game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Releasing August 24 on PS4, PS5, and the Epic Games Store, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is now available for preorder. 

California, United States (On-Site)

California, United States (Hybrid)

California, United States (Hybrid)

View All Jobs

Similar Skill Jobs

Flying Bark Productions - Lead Modeller

New South Wales, Australia (On-Site)

Nintendo - Software Engineer I, Graphics (NST)

Washington, United States (Hybrid)

The Walt Disney Company - Rigging Supervisor

British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Offworld - DevOps Engineer

British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)

Activision - Analytics Engineer (Contract)

California, United States (On-Site)

Activision - Senior System Designer

England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Activision - Lead Systems Designer

England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Activision - Principal Animation-Physics Engineer

California, United States (On-Site)

Warner Bros. Games - Senior Data Engineer

Telangana, India (Hybrid)

Jobs in Orange, California, United States

Nintendo - Software Engineer I, Graphics (NST)

Washington, United States (Hybrid)

Niantic - Product Manager - AR Platform

California, United States (Hybrid)

Niantic - Product Manager - AR Platform

California, United States (Hybrid)

Riot Games - Game Producer III, Game Loop - 2XKO

California, United States (On-Site)

Daybreak Game Company LLC - Senior Publishing Producer

California, United States (Hybrid)

Tencent - Senior Business Partnership Manager

California, United States (On-Site)

Tencent - Marketing Specialist

California, United States (On-Site)

Activision - Analytics Engineer (Contract)

California, United States (On-Site)

Epic Games - Technical UI Designer

North Carolina, United States (On-Site)

Game Writing Jobs

Nanobit - Junior Narrative Designer

Grad Zagreb, Croatia (Hybrid)

CD PROJEKT RED - Senior Writer

Massachusetts, United States (On-Site)

That's No Moon - Environment Artist, World Builder (Project Hire)

California, United States (Remote)

Epic Games - Quest Design Intern

North Carolina, United States (On-Site)

Epic Games - Quest Designer

State Of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil (On-Site)

Epic Games - Narrative Director

Europe (On-Site)

Epic Games - Narrative Director

North Carolina, United States (On-Site)

PlayStation Global - Technical Narrative Designer (Contract)

California, United States (On-Site)