Light & Wonder 3D Artist

Welcome to the intersection of high-stakes entertainment and cutting-edge digital artistry.
Light & Wonder is a global leader in the gaming industry, providing the foundational technology and creative “soul” for the world’s most iconic casinos and digital operators. We don’t just make games; we build immersive worlds that thrill millions of players across the globe.

We are currently seeking a high-caliber 3D Artist with a mastery of organic modeling to join our creative powerhouse in Chicago
. If you are a visionary who can breathe life into digital clay and transform complex concepts into performance-ready assets, we want to see your portfolio.

Detail
Specification

Company Name
Light & Wonder (Gaming Division)

Position Title 3D Artist (Specializing in Organic/Character Art)

Employment Type Full-Time

Work Model
Hybrid (3 days in-office at our Chicago Studio)

Base Salary Range $85,000 – $125,000 (Estimate based on Chicago market & experience)*

Location Chicago, IL

Primary Software Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop

Key Focus High-poly sculpting to low-poly engine optimization

Actual salary is determined by the candidate’s specific experience, portfolio strength, and internal equity. Light & Wonder offers a competitive benefits package including health, retirement, and performance-based incentives.

As a 3D Artist at Light & Wonder, you aren’t just a cog in a machine; you are a world-builder. Our gaming team is responsible for the visual fidelity of land-based gaming titles that define the casino floor experience. This role requires a unique blend of “Old World” traditional art sensibilities and “New World” technical proficiency.

You will be tasked with sculpting, modeling, and texturing characters and organic environments that must look stunning under the bright lights of a casino cabinet while functioning flawlessly within the game engine. You will collaborate daily with Lead Artists, Animators, and Riggers to ensure that every muscle flex and fabric fold translates perfectly into motion.

Your day-to-day will involve a rigorous mix of creative exploration and technical execution. Your primary responsibilities include:

• Organic Mastery: Create high-resolution 3D sculpts of characters, creatures, and organic environmental assets using ZBrush or equivalent software.
• Retopology: Convert high-fidelity sculpts into clean, efficient low-polygon game assets that maintain the silhouette and “read” of the original sculpt.
• Texture Artistry: Develop high-quality texture maps (diffuse, normal, specular, roughness) with a keen eye for light, shade, and material properties.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Work closely with the Lead Artist to ensure the artistic vision is met, and with Riggers and Animators to ensure geometry is optimized for deformation and movement.
• Style Consistency: Maintain a unified look and feel across different characters within the same game title, ensuring the visual “language” remains cohesive.
• Performance Optimization: Assess and build geometry that balances visual “wow factor” with the technical constraints of the gaming hardware.

• Data Integrity: Maintain impeccable file structures and organizational habits to ensure seamless hand-offs within the production pipeline.
• Feedback Loop: Actively participate in art reviews. You must be able to filter, evaluate, and implement constructive criticism on a professional level.
• Continuous Learning: The industry moves fast. You are expected to sharpen your 3D abilities and software expertise through both internal company training and independent research.

We are looking for an artist who possesses a deep understanding of form and a high level of technical discipline.

• Technical Stack: Expert-level specialization in Maya or 3ds Max
  , ZBrush
  , and Photoshop
  .
• Fundamental Art
  
  Skills:
  
  An exceptional understanding of human/animal anatomy, form, shape, structure, and silhouette.
• Engine Knowledge: A solid grasp of next-generation asset creation pipelines and how…