Senior Artist - Dambuster Studios, Nottingham 2026

Dambuster Studios , the powerhouse creators behind the BAFTA-nominated global hit Dead Island 2 , is an established pillar of the UK games industry. Originally founded in 1999 as Free Radical Design, the studio has maintained its legacy of craftsmanship and innovation for over two decades. Based in the heart of Nottingham, Dambuster is defined by a culture of quality, teamwork, and a relentless passion for creating immersive AAA experiences.

We are currently looking for a Senior Artist with a focus on External Development to join our Environment Art team. This is a critical leadership-support role designed for a professional who excels not only in artistic creation but also in communication, mentorship, and global collaboration. You will serve as the bridge between our internal creative vision and our external partners, ensuring that every asset—from gritty environments to complex vehicles—meets the world-class standards of a Dambuster production.

Role Snapshot & Benefits

The following table provides a high-level overview of the position’s logistics. Dambuster Studios is committed to transparency and providing a modern, supportive work environment for all its team members.

Job Overview

• Company Name: Dambuster Studios (Part of Deep Silver / PLAION )
• Position Title: Senior Artist (External Development)
• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract ( Until end of 2027)
• Location: Nottingham , United Kingdom – 122 Canal Street
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Work Model: Studio-based, Hybrid ( within 50 miles ), or Remote ( UK-only )
• Core Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Flexible surrounding hours)
• Salary Details: Competitive (Annual pay reviews included)

The Mission: Guiding Global Excellence

As a Senior Artist (External Development) , your primary objective is to act as the technical and aesthetic guardian for assets produced outside the studio walls. In the modern AAA landscape, scaling production through external partners is vital, and your expertise ensures that “External” never means “Lower Quality.”

You will work closely with the Art Director, Lead Environment Artist, and internal senior staff to align every externally produced piece with the overarching project vision. This role requires a unique blend of high-level production skills and the diplomatic finesse needed to provide actionable, constructive feedback to teams across the globe.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality Control & Aesthetic Guidance

• Feedback Loops: Provide clear, precise technical and aesthetic critiques to external partners, ensuring all assets align with the project’s visual bar.
• Benchmarking: Help establish visual benchmarks that serve as the gold standard for external teams to follow.
• Reference Management: Partner with Concept Artists to ensure all reference materials, briefs, and asset packs provided to partners are production-ready and unambiguous.

2. Pipeline & Workflow Management

• Briefing & Documentation: Prepare and maintain detailed art briefs and documentation to guide external development smoothly.
• Process Refinement: Contribute to the evolution of art style guides and development pipelines, identifying risks early and working with engineering teams to resolve technical hurdles.
• Asset Integration: Oversee the smooth transition of external assets into the internal studio pipeline, ensuring they meet strict performance requirements (Memory, GPU, and CPU).

3. Mentorship & Artistic Contribution

• In-House Creation: When not managing external flows, you will create high-quality models, materials, and environments to serve as examples for partners or to support internal production needs.
• Mentorship: Inspire and guide junior artists within the studio, sharing best practices regarding PBR material authoring and high-to-low poly workflows.

Candidate Requirements

We are looking for a highly organized artist who understands the “big picture” of game development. The ideal candidate is someone who can look at a complex environment and break it down into manageable, teachable components for others.

• Communication Mastery: Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills are mandatory. You must be able to explain complex technical tasks to partners who may be in different time zones.

• Technical Proficiency: An in-depth understanding of modern game art workflows, including PBR materials, lighting, and performance optimization for AAA engines.

• Organizational Skill: The ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while adhering to strict naming conventions and asset organization standards.

• Willingness to Travel: Occasional travel may be required to visit external partners and strengthen collaborative ties.

• UK Residency: Due to studio requirements, all applicants must currently reside in and have the right to work within the United Kingdom.

Why Join Dambuster?

Dambuster Studios offers more than just a job; we offer a career-defining environment. Our Nottingham studio is a vibrant, modern space equipped with the latest technology. We prioritize the wellbeing of our staff through:

• Flexibility: Our core hours (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM) allow for a better work-life balance.

• Growth: Studio-funded learning opportunities and annual pay reviews ensure you are constantly moving forward.

• Community: From weekly office treats (Monday breakfast and Friday pastries) to quarterly cross-team events and a fully subsidized gym membership, we invest in our people.

• Support: We offer domestic relocation assistance and enhanced maternity pay (26 weeks at full pay) for qualifying employees.

Dambuster Studios is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know—we are here to support your success.

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