Principal 3D Character Artist

We are PUBG, the global battle royale phenomenon! After the release of our flagship title in 2017 we have become one of the highest selling games of all time with over 75 million copies sold – that’s a lot of Chicken Dinners! And that's only the beginning: PUBG Madison is developing an exciting new IP that aims to push the shooter genre forward. 

Our state-of-the art studio and brand-new motion capture studio are in the heart of Madison, WI, a city frequently named the best place to live in the US for its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and outstanding, innovative educational institutions. PUBG Madison has been named a Top Workplace in 2025 and 2026 for our positive, strong company culture. Experience the perfect balance of urban excitement and natural tranquility in a city with more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, an incredible downtown farmer’s market, and family-friendly neighborhoods. 

||This role is open to remote work for those located in the United States. This role will work primarily on Pacific Time Zone (PST) business hours and requires regular collaboration with Korean-speaking teams; fluency in both English and Korean is required.II

The person we’re looking for:  

• Is passionate about achieving a high-quality bar.
• Is able to incorporate feedback to improve their output and can elevate others' work by providing constructive feedback.
• Defines artistic direction and execution even in ambiguous situations.
• Is driven to achieve results collaboratively as a team.
• Possesses technical expertise yet remains humble and open-minded to new ideas.
• Able to create systems and quality standards for a team of artists.

Responsibilities:

• Define the character art direction for the project and establish and maintain quality standards for the team.
• Lead AAA-level character production and oversee the full pipeline from modeling and texturing to in-engine implementation.
• Collaborate with Art Directors and other disciplines (Animation, TA, Design, etc.) to deliver results that fit the game experience.
• Improve character production pipelines and workflows to build an efficient production environment.
• Review work from team members and outsource artists and provide specific feedback.
• Manage project schedules, resources, and task priorities to ensure deliverables are completed on time at a high standard.
• Implement game-optimized characters with technical constraints in mind.
• Define the visual direction and quality bar for all character art across the project, and design the standards and workflows that enable the team to produce consistent results.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in game development or equivalent relevant experience, with at least 1 shipped game.
• Portfolio showcasing photorealistic, high-quality character art presented in-engine.
• Professional fluency in English and Korean.
• Strong understanding of the full character art pipeline.
• Deep understanding of human anatomy, form, proportion, costume, and material representation.
• Proficiency in major DCC tools such as Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
• Professional experience working in Unreal or Unity game engines.
• Experience leading a team or mentoring artists.
• Experience communicating clearly and solving problems in a collaborative environment.
• Experience owning environment art quality and direction and meeting deliverables on a past project.
• Ability to self-manage, prioritize tasks, and deliver under deadlines.
• Ability to work during Pacific Time zone business hours (10am-4pm) with regular ability to meet in the evenings for international collaboration.
• Ability to travel internationally 1-3 times a year for business purposes.

※ We place greater weight on what level of results you achieved and in what kind of project/environment, rather than years of experience alone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on games developed across multiple countries.
• Experience defining character style or setting art direction.
• Experience managing and providing feedback to outsource vendors.
• Experience building or improving character pipelines.
• Experience with in-engine visual implementation (PBR, shaders, lighting, etc.).
• Deep expertise in specific areas such as clothing or hair.
• Multi-platform (PC/Console) development experience.
• Experience contributing to team building, hiring, and organizational growth

What We Offer: 

• A highly competitive total compensation package   
• Comprehensive employer funded healthcare – ensuring you pay nothing out of pocket for in-network medical care 
• Employer-paid premiums for dental, vision, short & long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D insurance     
• Generous time off including 20 days of prorated PTO, 12 paid holidays and a studio-wide holiday break annually    
• Generous annual sick leave days to prioritize your well-being    
• Annual health & wellness, video game, and continuing education reimbursements 
• Industry-leading family planning and fertility care benefits, including gender-affirming care, through Carrot Fertility 
• Enjoy free catered lunches, meal reimbursements, and snacks and beverages for in office staff 
• Engage in regular team outings and events to foster a positive work culture 
• 401K with a company match for your financial well-being 

PUBG Studios provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.