Art Outsource Manager

Bad Robot Games is looking for an Art Outsource Manager to drive outsource content for our next title. You will be responsible for overseeing the management and coordination of art outsourcing activities, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality assets that meet our artistic and technical standards. Your exceptional communication skills, deep understanding of asset workflows, and ability to build a cohesive pipeline will be vital to fostering a consistent flow of assets from external partners. 

This role would have a focus on Character Outsourcing but may also help out other disciplines from time to time. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with our Lead Art Outsource Manager and establish best practices for our outsourcing flow.
• Manage the end-to-end art outsourcing process, including sourcing, onboarding, and maintaining communication with external art studios and individual artists.
• Collaborate closely with internal art leads and our art director to understand project requirements, establish asset specifications, and communicate these effectively to external partners.
• Work closely with rigging and animation teams to ensure characters meet deformation requirements and support intended animations.
• Create and implement a cohesive pipeline that supports efficient asset delivery, reviews, revisions, and final approvals.
• Provide detailed feedback on character art deliverables, focusing on realism, anatomical accuracy, and adherence to project guidelines.
• Develop asset briefs and detailed technical requirements for character-specific work, such as topology, UV layout, and material optimization.
• Leverage expertise in Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, ZBrush, and other character-focused tools to review and refine external work.
• Oversee the creation of realistic textures, materials, and shaders, ensuring high-quality skin, fabric, and surface details.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience as an Art Outsource Manager or a similar role within the gaming industry.
• Strong knowledge of asset workflows for various types of game assets, including environment assets, character models, vfx and concept packages.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively convey artistic vision, feedback, and technical requirements.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with a track record of successfully managing multiple outsourcing tasks simultaneously.
• In-depth understanding of the game development process and the ability to align art outsourcing activities with internal project milestones and deadlines.
• Proven problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically to address potential challenges and optimize the outsourcing process.
• Firm Understanding of content creation software, Unreal, and production software - like Maya, Substance Painter, Perforce, Miro, JIRA and Shotgrid
• All of our roles require up to 10% air travel. Examples include Studio/Team Offsites, Team/Studio Events, etc.

BONUSES

• An up-to-date knowledge of content workflows for Unreal 5.

Annual Salary Range: $115,000 - $120,000