3D Character Artist - Unreal Engine 5

Contract · Remote · Commission Based

Dirk Interactive is seeking an experienced 3D Character Artist for an unannounced PC game developed in Unreal Engine 5.

The project is an action-oriented hybrid-genre game. Further details will be shared with qualified candidates under NDA.

Working closely with the Art Director and Game Director, you will help shape the characters that define the game’s identity. We are looking for an artist with strong design judgment: someone who understands how silhouette, proportion, clothing, materials, and detail come together to create a memorable character.

Your work will support in-game production, cinematic moments, and promotional imagery. Assignments will develop through creative discussions with the directors and be scoped around clearly defined deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Develop character models, clothing, and equipment from approved concepts and references.
• Contribute artistic judgment when translating a design into three dimensions.
• Refine form, proportion, silhouette, and surface detail in collaboration with the Art Director.
• Create topology, UVs, textures, and materials suited to real-time production.
• Prepare characters for the agreed rigging and animation pipeline.
• Integrate and review character assets in Unreal Engine 5.
• Create or adapt character assets according to the needs of each brief.
• Deliver organized source files and finished assets ready for production.

What we are looking for

• A portfolio demonstrating professional character-art work.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, clothing, and silhouette.
• High-quality modelling, sculpting, texturing, and material skills.
• Professional experience creating characters for real-time games.
• Practical Unreal Engine 5 experience.
• Understanding of topology and how character construction supports deformation.
• Ability to interpret artistic direction while contributing thoughtful design decisions.
• Reliable communication, realistic estimates, and the ability to work independently.
• Professional client or studio experience, with a clear explanation of your contribution.

Especially valuable

• Experience carrying a character from concept through to finished in-engine presentation.
• Strong clothing, equipment, and hard-surface accessory work.
• Experience adapting characters to existing rigs and animation systems.
• Familiarity with modular character construction.
• Ability to preserve a character’s identity across gameplay and close-up presentation.

Rigging expertise is welcome, but the rigging responsibilities for each assignment will be agreed as part of its scope.

Engagement

• Remote contract work, scoped around defined characters or asset packages.
• Scope, fee, schedule, review rounds, and deliverables are agreed before work begins.
• Initial work is anticipated from September through mid-December 2026, with potential for further work as the project develops.
• International applicants are welcome, with availability for occasional discussions during Pacific Time working hours.
• An NDA and contractor agreement are required before confidential project materials are shared.

Application

Please include:

• Portfolio.
• Résumé or a brief overview of professional experience.
• Relevant character examples, including in-engine work and breakdowns where available.
• Availability, location or time zone, and your usual project pricing or rate expectations.
• Portfolio required. Please identify your contribution to collaborative work and share only material you are authorized to disclose. Password-protected portfolios are welcome.