Senior 3D Artist

Cast Iron Games; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering game development studio in Wakefield is looking for a Senior 3D Artist who will create high-quality game-ready assets from concept to implementation. This role emphasizes strong technical knowledge, asset optimization, and collaboration with other disciplines. Ideal candidates have shipped titles and proficiency in industry-standard tools like Maya and Substance Painter. Offering a supportive environment with flexible hours, competitive salary, and various benefits, this position is perfect for experienced individuals seeking a fulfilling role in game development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible hours

25 days annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven professional experience as a 3D Artist on shipped game titles.
• Experience working across a full asset pipeline for real-time games.
• Comfortable working in a generalist capacity across multiple asset types.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality, game-ready 3D assets that meet project style and performance targets.
• Own assets from concept through to final in-engine implementation.
• Support and mentor junior and mid-level artists.

Skills

3D Art Creation

Asset Optimisation

PBR Workflows

Performance Awareness

Technical Quality

Tools

Maya

Blender

Photoshop

Substance Painter

ZBrush

Marmoset Toolbag

Job description

Who We Are

At Cast Iron Games, we build technically ambitious games in a calm, focused environment, where every team member has a voice. Based in Tileyard North, we collaborate with high quality partners on high-quality projects, guided by clarity, consistency, and mutual respect.

We’re a young and growing studio, but our team is made up of experienced developers who’ve worked across AAA and independent titles. Together, we’re building a supportive, balanced environment where great work happens without crunch.

The Role

As a Senior 3D Artist at Cast Iron Games, you’ll play a key hands‑on role in delivering high-quality, game-ready 3D assets from concept through to final in-engine implementation. This is a senior generalist position with a strong focus on asset optimisation, technical quality, and performance awareness, alongside responsibility for supporting and elevating the wider art team.

You’ll work closely with studio leadership, programmers, and other disciplines to ensure assets meet both artistic and technical requirements, while also acting as a point of guidance for less experienced artists. This role suits an artist who is highly confident in their craft, comfortable owning complex asset work end‑to‑end, and proactive in identifying improvements to quality, performance, and pipeline efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality, game‑ready 3D assets that meet project style, technical constraints, and performance targets

• Own assets from concept and reference through to final in‑engine implementation, including polish and optimisation

• Optimise assets for performance, including polygon budgets, UV efficiency, texture usage, draw calls, LODs, and memory constraints

• Ensure assets are built with a strong understanding of real‑time rendering and platform‑specific performance considerations

• Work within and help uphold established art pipelines, tools, and workflows, contributing suggestions for improvement where appropriate

• Collaborate closely with studio leadership to maintain visual consistency, technical quality, and overall art direction

• Support and mentor junior and mid‑level artists, providing constructive feedback, guidance, and technical advice

• Act as a technical and artistic point of reference within the art team, helping to troubleshoot asset, performance, or pipeline challenges

• Communicate clearly and proactively with programmers, designers, and other disciplines to resolve technical or artistic issues

• Deliver work independently while contributing effectively within a cross‑disciplinary and 3rd‑party production environment

• Apply and champion best practices for PBR materials, lighting considerations, and real‑time rendering workflows

• Review and iterate on assets based on feedback and critique, setting a strong example of professionalism and adaptability

• Proactively identify risks, inefficiencies, or quality issues, raising them early and proposing practical solutions

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• Proven professional experience as a 3D Artist on shipped game titles

• Experience working across a full asset pipeline for real-time games

• Comfortable working in a generalist capacity across multiple asset types

• Experience working with or alongside external/3rd party teams is a plus

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of industry‑standard tools such as Maya/Blender/Max, Photoshop, Substance Painter/Designer, ZBrush, and Marmoset Toolbag

• Solid understanding of PBR workflows, materials, and real‑time rendering

• Excellent UV unwrapping and optimisation skills

• Strong awareness of performance considerations and technical constraints in games

• Good understanding of asset optimisation techniques, including geometry, textures, and memory budgets

• Demonstrates strong foundational art skills, including composition, form, silhouette, proportion, and colour theory

• Able to work from detailed concept art, references, or written briefs

• Organised, reliable, and able to manage time effectively across tasks

Ways of Working

• Comfortable working within an Agile development environment

• Open to feedback and able to apply critique constructively

• Proactive, solutions‑focused, and able to work independently when required

• Collaborative and communicative, with a team‑first mindset

Why Cast Iron Games

• A people‑first studio with a clear focus on craft, clarity, and collaboration

• A high‑trust team where experience is valued and voices are heard

• A respectful, experienced team with a strong engineering culture

• The opportunity to ship performance‑optimised, cross‑platform games youʼre proud of

• Projects that offer real variety. Different game engines, new challenges, constant growth

• Creative surroundings at Tileyard North, with a supportive creative community

• Competitive salary, flexible hours and professional development support

• Opportunities to lead with clarity, autonomy, and real impact

• No crunch. No egos. Just good code, good people and good games

What to Expect / Key Benefits

• Start your day any time between 8:00am and 10:00am

• 35 working hours per week with a 1-hour lunch break (with the opportunity to flex down to 30 minutes or up to 2 hours)

• 25 days annual leave + 8 days bank holiday

• 1 day leave for your birthday and 1 day leave if youʼre moving house

• Length of service increases are 1 day per year of service up to maximum of 8 additional days

• Up to 8 days discretionary annual leave during our end of year break

• Potential for annual performance bonus

• Free breakfast options, juice, hot drinks and fruit

• Employee referral bonus (up to £2000!)

• Group Life Assurance – 4 x annual salary payable to nominated beneficiaries through an expression of wishes form.

• Income Protection – covers you up for up to 50% of monthly salary for 2 years (after a 26 week deferred period, i.e. when SSP runs out)

• Critical Illness Cover – lump sum of 1 x annual salary on diagnosis of a critical illness

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• EV & Hybrid Car Scheme

• Tech Purchase Scheme – split the cost of Tech or Home electronics through salary deduction, interest free

• Healthcare Cash plan – claim back the cost of everyday healthcare, dental, physio, chiropractor, opticians, podiatry etc

• Private Medical Insurance with Vitality

• Reward Gateway with cashback and discounts on 900+ retailers

• Employee Assistance Programme including Virtual GP service

• Wellbeing Centre based on Mind, Move, Munch and Money