Senior 2D Game Artist

2D Game Artist | Sanddrifter Studio | Remote | Full-Time

About Sanddrifter

Sanddrifter Studio is an independent game studio based in Abu Dhabi. We build games with intent. Games that respect the people playing them.

Our first title, Sijen: Chaos Board, is available now on iOS and Android. As the studio grows, we’re looking for someone who can help raise the quality and consistency of our game art and contribute to the visual development of future projects.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior 2D Game Artist with a strong eye for creature design, environment design, and visual development. This is a hands-on role focused on creating artwork, exploring ideas, and raising the quality and consistency of the studio’s artwork across projects.

We’re not looking for an Art Director, and we’re not looking for a people manager. The studio’s creative direction is set by the founder and remains there. What we’re looking for is an artist who can take an idea, a written description, or a rough direction and turn it into something original, believable, and memorable, and who can help maintain a high standard across everything the studio ships.

What You’ll Do

• Design original creatures, characters, and enemies
• Design environments and world elements
• Create concept art and visual explorations
• Contribute to the visual development of future projects
• Review and improve the studio’s existing artwork, and help hold a consistent quality bar across everything we ship. This includes giving direct, specific feedback on work produced by others
• Collaborate directly with the founder, developers, and designers

What We’re Looking For

Required

• Strong portfolio demonstrating original 2D artwork
• Experience with creature, character, or environment design
• Strong understanding of composition, colour, lighting, and visual storytelling
• Ability to work from written direction and visual references
• Ability to receive and implement feedback
• Ability to give clear, specific feedback on other people’s work
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment

Nice to Have

• Experience contributing to shipped games
• Experience working with Unity
• Experience collaborating with developers and game designers

Animation

Experience with rig-based 2D animation (Spine, DragonBones, Unity 2D Animation, or similar) is a significant advantage and may expand the scope of this role.

We are separately considering a part-time animator. A candidate who can cover animation as well as art may change that plan, and we would structure the role and the compensation accordingly. If this is part of your skill set, tell us clearly in your application.

What We Value

Originality

We’re looking for artists who create rather than imitate.

Craft

One strong piece is worth more than ten average ones. We value quality, iteration, and thoughtful execution over volume, and we’d rather see a small portfolio of strong work than a large one that’s inconsistent.

Reliability

Good communication matters as much as good artwork.

Professionalism

We value people who communicate clearly, follow through on commitments, and treat colleagues with respect. If a brief, deadline, or requirement is problematic, raise it before starting work rather than after delivery. Honest conversations early are far more valuable than explanations later.

Independent Thinking

We value people who know when to push back. If a direction, timeline, or approach can be improved, we want to hear it. Thoughtful disagreement is welcome. Once a decision is made, we expect the team to commit to it.

Important

This role focuses primarily on game art, creature design, environment design, and visual development. Candidates whose portfolios are primarily focused on social media content, marketing creatives, branding, or UI/UX should be aware that those disciplines are not the primary focus of this position.

All portfolio work submitted must be your own original work. Shortlisted candidates should be prepared to discuss their process and, where available, present source files demonstrating ownership of their work.

No AI-generated material appears in any work we ship. AI may be used for personal reference or exploration. Any artwork delivered to the studio must be created by the artist. This includes the paid art test.

Compensation

AED 3,000 - 4,500 per month, paid in USD equivalent.

This is a full-time, exclusive, remote role. Successful candidates should not be working for other studios or taking on regular freelance commitments during the engagement.

One-year renewable agreement with a three-month probation period. Compensation is reviewed as the studio’s revenue allows.

The Hiring Process

We are hiring now and moving quickly. We review applications as they arrive rather than waiting for a closing date, and a strong candidate can expect to go from application to decision in about ten days.

1.⁠ ⁠Portfolio Review Reviewed as applications come in. Shortlisted on quality, originality, and fit.

2.⁠ ⁠Interview A conversation about your experience, process, and approach to art. Scheduled within a couple of days of shortlisting.

3.⁠ ⁠Paid Art Test One creature. You’ll receive a written description, relevant world context, and visual references. You’ll produce one finished concept piece, layered source files, and a short explanation of your design decisions.

Compensation: AED 500, paid regardless of outcome. Turnaround: 4 days by default. If this timeline presents a genuine conflict, discuss it with us before starting.

4.⁠ ⁠Review and Revision A screen-sharing session where you walk us through your work, your process, and your source files. We’ll give you notes in the call and ask for one revision.

How a candidate responds to feedback matters as much as the artwork itself.

5.⁠ ⁠Decision All shortlisted candidates receive an outcome, whichever way it goes.

How to Apply

Please send:

• Portfolio
• Resume
• Location
• Availability (Notice period)
• Whether you have rig-based 2D animation experience

Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

To: contact@sanddrifter.com Subject: Senior 2D Game Artist Application - [Your Name]

One final note:

We’re less interested in years of experience than we are in the quality of your work, your ability to think through a design problem, and your professionalism when working with others.

If that sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you.