Senior 3D UI Artist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior 3D UI Artist

Company: PlayStation Global

Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Art & Design / Creative & Media

Date Posted: 2026-08-22T02:59:03

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior 3D UI Artist role focuses on rendering and capturing polished 3D UI art assets for AAA game development, contributing to the final stages of a major project.

• Responsibilities include detailed material authoring in Substance Suite, populating in-game content systems like Codex entries, and supporting features such as Photo Mode.

• The position demands strong technical proficiency in 3D rendering workflows, in-engine asset capture, and familiarity with established game development pipelines.

• Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work independently, self-prioritize tasks, and deliver high-quality assets consistently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a short-term contract position, emphasizing the need for immediate impact and execution within an existing, refined pipeline. The focus is on late-stage asset production and polish, rather than initial concepting or early-stage development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• 3D Rendering & Asset Capture: Render and deliver final 3D UI art assets using the established capture pipeline, ensuring adherence to art direction and technical specifications.

• Material Authoring: Utilize Substance Painter and/or Substance Designer to create and refine surface details, materials, and finishing touches on 3D assets to meet visual targets.

• In-Game Content Population: Capture and deliver high-quality in-game images for Codex categories (e.g., Gear, Bestiary), ensuring visual consistency in framing, lighting, and presentation.

• Test Bed Operations: Operate within an in-engine test bed to capture game images for UI integration, maintaining technical quality and visual coherence.

• Icon Production: Create and refine UI icons across various game systems, ensuring visual harmony with the established art style and quality standards.

• Photo Mode Support: Contribute UI art assets and provide visual polish for the game's photo mode feature.

• Pipeline Adherence: Work efficiently within proven workflows and capture loops, adapting to refined art direction as production progresses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "established capture pipeline," "proven loop," and "hit the ground running" indicates a need for an artist who can quickly integrate into existing workflows without significant ramp-up time. The role is execution-focused, requiring strong self-management and technical skill to deliver polished assets efficiently.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is explicitly stated, implying that professional experience and a strong portfolio are prioritized over formal education.

Experience:

• 4+ years of professional 3D art experience for games, specifically focused on UI, rendering, or real-time asset production for console or PC titles.

• At least one shipped AAA game credit in a 3D art or UI art capacity. Required Skills:

• Strong proficiency in Substance Painter and/or Substance Designer for advanced material authoring and detail application.

• Demonstrated experience with 3D rendering workflows and in-engine asset capture, including lighting setup, camera framing, and render pass organization.

• Proven ability to work within established pipelines and capture loops, with a capacity for rapid onboarding and execution.

• Solid understanding of UI art standards, including icon design principles, image framing for UI contexts, and asset organization best practices.

• Proficiency in Maya for 3D modeling and asset preparation.

• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for post-processing and texture work.

• Strong self-management skills, including prioritization and consistent delivery in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience populating in-game content databases or encyclopedic systems (e.g., bestiary, codex, inventory) with rendered or captured imagery.

• Familiarity with photo mode UI systems and the unique asset considerations for this feature.

• Experience with icon design and light visual development within a defined art direction.

• Comfort working in an iterative feedback loop with Art Directors and Leads, quickly incorporating direction.

• Background working on narrative-driven AAA titles with high visual fidelity standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of artistic skill and technical execution. The emphasis on specific tools like Substance Suite, Maya, and Photoshop, alongside rendering and in-engine capture, points to a role that bridges traditional 3D art with real-time application and UI integration. The "AAA game credit" requirement underscores the expectation of experience with high-production value projects.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase of high-quality 3D UI art assets, demonstrating proficiency in rendering and in-engine capture.

• Examples of detailed material work created in Substance Painter/Designer, highlighting texture complexity and realism.

• Demonstrations of icon design and UI asset creation, illustrating visual coherence and adherence to style guides.

• Case studies or examples of populating in-game content systems (e.g., Codex entries) with consistent visual presentation.

• Evidence of working within established pipelines, potentially including examples of asset integration or iteration based on feedback. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a requirement for submission, candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal workflows for:

  • Asset creation from concept to final capture.

  • Material authoring and iterative refinement in Substance.

  • In-engine asset integration and troubleshooting.

  • Icon design process and style consistency.

  • Collaboration and feedback incorporation within a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on hitting the ground running within an existing pipeline, the portfolio should heavily feature execution and polish. Examples demonstrating quick adaptation to art direction and efficient asset production will be highly valued. The ability to showcase technical proficiency in rendering and material work within game engines is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $57.98 - $86.92 USD per hour.

Benefits:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time work schedule, with 40 hours per week being the typical benchmark for contract roles of this nature. The description emphasizes a "sprint-driven environment" and "deadline-driven," suggesting a need for focus and efficiency during working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided hourly rate range for Los Angeles, CA, is competitive for a Senior 3D UI Artist role within the AAA gaming industry. This range reflects the experience level, specialized skill set, and the high-demand nature of contract positions for major game studios. The benefits package is standard for contract roles, focusing on essential health coverage.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Video Game Development. PlayStation Global, specifically Santa Monica Studio, is a renowned developer known for critically acclaimed titles like God of War.

Company Size: PlayStation Global is a large, established subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, employing a significant number of people worldwide. Santa Monica Studio itself is a substantial development team. This size implies access to extensive resources, established processes, and a professional, structured work environment.

Founded: Sony Group Corporation was founded in 1946, with PlayStation launching in 1994. Santa Monica Studio was founded in 1999. This long history points to stability, a deep understanding of the entertainment market, and a culture of innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Senior 3D UI Artist will join the UI team, working closely with UI Designers, other 3D artists, and potentially Technical Artists.

• Collaboration will extend to Art Directors, Leads, and potentially engineers to ensure assets meet technical and artistic requirements.

• The role is described as "self-sufficient" but also emphasizes working within an "established pipeline" and "iterative feedback loop," indicating a balance between autonomy and team integration. Methodology:

• The team operates within a "structured, sprint-driven environment," common in agile game development.

• Emphasis is placed on "execution-focused" work, "proven loops," and "efficient" asset capture.

• Art direction is refined throughout production, requiring adaptability and responsiveness to feedback.

Company Website: https://www.playstation.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Santa Monica Studio is geared towards high-quality, narrative-driven AAA game development. The emphasis on "award-winning team" and "creating legendary games" suggests a passion for excellence and a drive to push creative boundaries. For a contract role, fitting into this high-performance culture and contributing effectively to an ongoing project is key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Artist - This role is positioned at a senior level, requiring significant experience and the ability to work independently. It's a hands-on execution role rather than a management or lead position.

Reporting Structure: The Senior 3D UI Artist will likely report to a UI Lead or Art Director, working within the established UI team structure. They are expected to integrate into an existing team and workflow.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the visual fidelity and user experience of the game's UI. High-quality 3D UI assets, icons, and in-game imagery are critical for player immersion, information delivery, and the overall polish of the final product. Contribution to features like Photo Mode also enhances player engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in real-time 3D rendering for UI, advanced material authoring with Substance Suite, and in-engine asset capture techniques.

• Project Experience: Gain valuable experience on a high-profile AAA title nearing completion, contributing to a major game release.

• Pipeline Mastery: Further refine understanding and execution within sophisticated AAA game development pipelines.

• Networking: Build professional connections within a leading game development studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, the "Senior" title and the specific responsibilities offer opportunities for deep skill development in niche areas of game art. The ability to contribute effectively to a AAA title's final polish can be a significant career differentiator.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site" in Los Angeles, CA. This indicates a traditional studio environment.

Office Location(s): Los Angeles, CA, United States. This location is a major hub for the entertainment and gaming industry.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect to work within a studio setting, with opportunities for in-person collaboration with other artists, designers, and leads.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard hardware and software, including powerful workstations, game engines, and the full Adobe Creative Suite and Substance Suite.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the UI team, art leadership, and potentially other departments to ensure seamless integration of assets and adherence to project goals.

Work Schedule: The role is described as "sprint-driven" and "deadline-driven," suggesting a focused work schedule. While typically 40 hours per week, crunch periods may occur in game development. The contract nature might offer some flexibility, but on-site presence is mandatory.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working on-site at a AAA studio like Santa Monica Studio offers a highly collaborative and resource-rich environment. The expectation is for an artist to be fully engaged and present, contributing to the team's collective effort in a dynamic studio setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio to assess fundamental qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where your submitted work will be thoroughly examined for technical skill, artistic quality, and relevance to the role's requirements (rendering, Substance, UI assets, icons).

• Technical/Artistic Assessment: Potential for a technical interview or a more in-depth discussion about your workflow, problem-solving approaches, and familiarity with rendering and capture pipelines.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with team members or leads to assess collaboration style, ability to work within a structured environment, and fit with the studio's culture.

• Contract Negotiation: If successful, discussion of contract terms, duration, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Key Skills: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of 3D UI assets, detailed Substance materials, rendered assets, and icon design.

• Showcase Rendering & Capture: Include examples that demonstrate your ability in lighting, camera framing, and capturing final assets for use in-game.

• Demonstrate Pipeline Integration: If possible, show work that illustrates how assets are prepared and integrated into a game engine or a similar pipeline.

• Contextualize Your Work: Briefly explain the tools used, your role, and the specific challenges or objectives for each piece.

• Focus on Polish: Given the late-stage nature of this role, emphasize the quality and polish of your final assets.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for creating detailed 3D UI assets, from initial modeling to final material application and rendering.

• Anticipate questions about your experience with specific software (Substance, Maya, Photoshop) and rendering techniques.

• Think about how you adapt to existing art direction and incorporate feedback from leads.

• Be ready to articulate your experience working within established pipelines and meeting tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount. For this role, it needs to clearly demonstrate not just artistic talent but also the technical execution required for AAA game UI asset production, particularly in rendering, material authoring, and in-engine capture.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 3D Modeling & Scene Assembly: Maya (essential for asset preparation and scene setup for rendering).

• Material Authoring: Substance Painter and/or Substance Designer (critical for creating high-fidelity surface details and materials).

• Image Editing & Post-Processing: Adobe Photoshop (for texture refinement, icon creation, and post-render adjustments).

• Game Engine (Familiarity): While not explicitly stated as a requirement to operate, familiarity with the engine used by Santa Monica Studio (likely Unreal Engine or a proprietary engine) is beneficial for understanding asset integration.

• Rendering Software: Familiarity with rendering engines and techniques used within Maya or game engines for asset capture.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Not directly applicable to this role, as it's primarily an art production position. However, understanding how assets are used and potentially impact player metrics could be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this art production role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Maya, Substance Suite, and Photoshop is non-negotiable. The ability to effectively use these tools for high-quality asset creation and material detail is at the core of this position.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to producing high-fidelity, polished assets that meet AAA standards, as evidenced by the studio's track record.

• Execution & Efficiency: A focus on delivering results within established pipelines and tight deadlines, particularly important for a contract role nearing project completion.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Working effectively within a team, incorporating feedback from Art Directors and Leads to refine creative decisions.

• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to evolving art direction and technical requirements late in production.

• Passion for Games: A shared enthusiasm for creating engaging and memorable gaming experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: The role requires integration into an existing UI team, implying a collaborative approach to asset creation and problem-solving.

• Feedback-Driven: Artists are expected to actively participate in and respond to iterative feedback loops with leadership.

• Cross-Functional Awareness: Understanding how UI assets fit into the broader game development context, working with designers and potentially engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values individuals who can contribute immediately and effectively to a high-performance team. Self-sufficiency is key, but so is the ability to integrate seamlessly and contribute to the collective goal of shipping a high-quality game.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Late-Stage Production: Working on assets during the final stages of development can mean rapid iteration, tight deadlines, and potentially evolving art direction.

• Pipeline Integration: Quickly mastering and working efficiently within an established, potentially complex, capture and rendering pipeline.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring visual consistency across a large volume of assets for systems like Codex entries, especially under pressure.

• Contract Duration: The short-term contract nature requires immediate impact and fitting into a pre-existing team dynamic without the long-term integration of a full-time employee.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Rendering Techniques: Gaining hands-on experience with specific rendering and capture workflows used in AAA game development.

• Substance Mastery: Deepening expertise in advanced material authoring and procedural texturing techniques within Substance Suite.

• AAA Pipeline Exposure: Understanding the intricacies of asset creation and integration in a large-scale, high-fidelity game production.

• Photo Mode Specialization: Acquiring specific knowledge about the technical and artistic considerations for photo mode features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is immediate contribution and execution within a defined, potentially demanding, production phase. The growth opportunities lie in honing specialized technical art skills within the context of AAA game development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a detailed 3D UI asset, from modeling to final material application and rendering."

• "How do you approach capturing assets in-engine to ensure optimal lighting, framing, and technical quality for UI integration?"

• "Walk me through a time you had to adapt your work based on late-stage art direction changes or feedback from a lead."

• "What is your experience with Substance Painter/Designer, and can you show examples of complex materials you've created?"

• "How do you ensure visual consistency when creating a large set of similar assets, like icons or Codex entries?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to working at Santa Monica Studio and on PlayStation titles?"

• "How do you approach working independently and managing your time effectively in a deadline-driven environment?"

• "Describe your experience working within an established development pipeline."

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your work?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to immediately showcase your strongest 3D UI assets, rendering examples, and Substance work.

• Highlight Key Skills: Dedicate sections or specific projects to demonstrate your proficiency in rendering, material authoring, and icon design.

• Context is Key: For each piece, briefly explain the tools used, your specific contribution, and the intended application (e.g., "3D UI asset for an inventory screen," "Codex entry illustration").

• Showcase Technical Execution: Emphasize the quality of your textures, lighting, and final renders, demonstrating your understanding of visual fidelity.

• Be Ready to Discuss Process: Prepare to walk through your workflow for specific projects and answer questions about your technical approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can hit the ground running. Demonstrating technical proficiency, a strong understanding of game art pipelines, and the ability to work efficiently and collaboratively are key. Your portfolio should speak to these capabilities directly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior 3D UI Artist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the job-boards.greenhouse.io platform.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 4+ years of 3D art experience in games, specifically mentioning UI, rendering, and real-time asset production, along with your AAA shipped titles and proficiency in Maya, Substance Suite, and Photoshop.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest projects that best showcase your 3D UI art, rendering, material authoring (Substance), and icon design skills. Prioritize polished examples that demonstrate your ability to execute within established pipelines.

• Prepare for Portfolio Review: Be ready to discuss your process, tools, and technical approach for each piece in your portfolio. Practice articulating your contributions and how you’ve met artistic and technical requirements.

• Research Santa Monica Studio: Familiarize yourself with their past titles and general art style to understand their commitment to high-fidelity, narrative-driven games.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.