Certain Affinity seeks Art Director

This is a studio level leadership position, reporting to the president. The successful candidate should understand all areas of design and production as it relates to AAA titles on Windows and Current-Gen platforms including concept, character & environment creation, FX, UI and animation. The Art Director will embrace the challenges Current-Gen brings as well as be the driving force behind pushing visual boundaries. The candidate should be experienced and comfortable directing and mentoring a team of artists, managing art schedules, overseeing source control, leading outsourcing efforts as well as recruiting and hiring. As this is not just a management-only position, the ideal candidate would be well versed in all facets of art creation and will be able to contribute in the production of high-quality art assets. The ability to make quick and effective decisions & be able to work efficiently with other departments (marketing, engineering, design) is required.

Qualifications:

• 5-10 years of professional game development experience with at least two titles shipped as a senior artist/lead.
• Intermediate to Expert proficiency in content creation apps (Max, Maya, Photoshop, Zbrush, Motionbuilder, etc.)
• Proficiency with all facets of game art creation (with a proven expertise in several)
• Experience directing and managing outsourced artists
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and proven ability to write high-quality specifications
• Degree in an art related discipline

Valued Skills:

• Experience with processing game assets through an art pipeline into an existing game engine
• Proficiency to expertise with Illustrator, Flash and Fireworks
• Proficiency with HTML/XML/CSS
• Enthusiastic game-player
• Film fanatic
• A cinematic eye and understanding of cinematography and visual storytelling

Excellent understanding of

• Art direction as it relates to games development
• Strategic allocation of resources for maximum effect
• Color, light, form and function
• Console and PC development processes
• Technology and pipelines
• Potential impact of production-phase change requests on quality, stability and schedule
• Storytelling and gameplay

Sample Artwork Required, no exceptions.

If you have a super creative mind, a strong inventive nature, and the energy and character to inspire others, manage teams, and be visionary enough to make a big difference to Certain Affinity games, we would like to meet you.

Please contact us at:jobs -AT- certainaffinity.com

About Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity is a successful, independently-funded developer of original IP and work-for-hire with 30 employees, who list Activision, Microsoft, Capcom and Valve among their business partners. Our studios are located in Austin, Texas, a vibrant and growing city frequently at the top of "best place to live" lists, with many parks, lakes and recreational activities, along with its famous live music scene. Certain Affinity's staff are driven by a common passion for creating games of the highest quality, and we intend to break new ground in the quality and caliber of fun, social and multiplayer gaming.

Our benefits package includes 401(k) with matching opportunities, unusually generous profit share program, along with paid vacation + sick time, and optical, dental and medical benefits available for you and your family too.

Visit www.certainaffinity.com for more information.