Art Lead (m/f/d)

About DECA Games

We believe that games should be played for decades but many are abandoned even when a loyal community is screaming to keep them alive. DECA specializes in acquiring games from other developers and reinvigorating them to continue to entertain for decades. When other studios see an old game, we see a fantastic set of problems to solve and a huge opportunity.

DECA is a remote company with over 400 people in over 40 countries globally. DECA is also a part of the Embracer Group, the largest public gaming company in Europe.

About our culture

We’ve managed to maintain a small company feel with the stability and resources of a much larger one. We fully believe in the flexibility of a remote workplace. Team members are trusted to manage their time and get things done independently. We think that egos and politics need to be checked at the virtual door. That means no jerks are allowed, that no job is too small for anyone, and an openness to help and learn from each other is required. We love the challenge of working within constraints and love when we succeed as a team. Check out more about us and our values on our website (www.decagames.com).

This is a remote position. You can work from anywhere in the world in the CET timezone (9 am - 6 pm CET).

About the role

We are looking for an Art Lead to be a key creative force responsible for defining and overseeing the artistic vision and direction of our game titles. You will lead a team of talented artists, work closely with cross-functional teams and coordinate art outsourcing relationships to ensure that the visual quality and style of our games align with our creative vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of artists, providing management, mentorship and guidance to ensure they produce high-quality art assets in line with the game's artistic direction.
• Define and communicate the artistic vision and style for our games, ensuring that it aligns with the overall game design and narrative, and is consistent across all art assets.
• Occasionally contribute to art production by working on assets as needed to meet project goals.
• Develop and optimize art production pipelines and workflows to enhance efficiency and ensure timely delivery of art assets.
• Collaborate with game designers, narrative designers, and other cross-functional teams to ensure that the art team supports and enhances the overall gameplay and player experience.
• Maintain strict quality control standards, conduct art reviews, and provide constructive feedback to ensure that all art assets meet the highest visual and technical standards.
• Manage art production schedules, resource allocation, and priorities to ensure the on-time and on-budget delivery of art assets.
• Identify and improve our outsourcing pipeline to help streamline asset integration.
• Maintain asset tracking throughout the stages of production.
• Create documentation, asset specs, and supporting reference materials with clear instructions.

Requirements

• Proven experience in the video game industry as a Senior Artist or Art Lead.
• Strong artistic skills, with a portfolio that demonstrates expertise in various art styles, including 2D and 3D art.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both in-house and outsourced art teams.
• Proficiency with industry-standard art tools and software.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a creative mindset.
• Knowledge of game development processes and pipelines.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, including managing and coordinating art outsourcing relationships

Benefits

• Remote first company culture.
• Flexible work hours to support a personal work-life balance.
• Weekly remote Embodiment@Work breathing and workout exercises.
• Online language classes: English, German, French, Spanish etc.
• Working in a multicultural environment with people from over 30 different countries.
• Flat hierarchies with an open-door policy.