Associate Art Director (chara/weapons) - F/M/NB

  • Paris
  • Full-Time
  • Start Date: 23 February 2026
  • Apply Now

About

Novaquark is dedicated to bringing people from across the globe together to breathe life into worlds of their own making. Our first game, Dual Universe, grandly showcases the power of next-generation voxels. Players and game makers alike are empowered to let their wildest imaginings soar to create stunning buildings and contraptions, fully-functioning vehicles of every shape and size, and awe-inspiring pieces of art.

We’re just getting started! We are working on several ambitious games that span across multiple genres, that leverage our technology driven mindset. proven engines such as Unreal 5, and industry-standard workflows. With the NQ way we mean that as game makers our collective potential can be brought to new heights leveraging technology. We are looking for talented and passionate people to join our growing team and help us make these forward-thinking games a reality.

With a mix of industry veterans and promising young talents, Novaquark is a place where individual contributions matter above else in an inclusive workplace. We have offices in Paris and Montreal, both in central and easily accessible locations, and the coffee pot is always on. Want to work from home in your favorite fuzzy slippers? No problem: we have a fully flexible work policy. Oh, and did we mention that we like to have fun while we’re at it? We’re making games, after all! Novaquarkians often meet up, in-person and online, to share food, games, and good times. Come as you are! Visit the Novaquark website to learn more. If you like what you see and want to be a part of it, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

The NQ Way:

  • We prioritize results rather than seniority.

  • We work from anywhere.

  • We come as we are.

  • We go where no other game has gone: we started with Dual Universe, and we are all game creators, pushing innovation and creativity.

  • We leverage all technologies (Unreal engine, procedural, AI, UGC, data, server, voxel...) because we love, as a team, to do more with the power available at our fingertips.

  • And we believe it is a transmission of the future. Inclusion, innovation, progression. The future will tell us if we are right.

Regarding our company culture and rituals, we host "Weekly Team Games" every Monday. Participation is optional, and it's a great opportunity to play online games with fellow Novaquarkians. We also have a mandatory meeting every three weeks, on Mondays, to discuss the progress of our internal projects.

To keep everyone up-to-date, we regularly dispatch newsletters that cover the latest developments of our project.

In Paris, our office is situated in the 3rd arrondissement, just a stone's throw from the Arts et Métiers metro station, on Beaubourg Street. For those coming to the office, the area offers a diverse array of dining options, catering to all tastes and preferences.

At Novaquark, we are dedicated to fighting discrimination in all its forms and fostering an inclusive environment including those from individuals with disabilities. We welcome applications from all candidates, as we strive to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of our global community.

Job Description

Role Summary

We are looking for the next great Associate Art Director (characters and weapons), He/She will acts as a direct extension of the Art Director for all matters related to the visual direction of levels and environments. He/She ensures artistic consistency, visual quality, and the proper application of the approved art direction across environment production, while supporting characters and weapons teams for our next AAA Dark fantasy game. The candidate we need to show a strong portfolio showing visual range, style application, and quality across game art disciplines

Responsibilities

  • Help define and uphold the artistic vision and visual style across characters and weapons design in conjunction with (animations, rigging, props, VFX) under senior art leadership.

  • Contribute to creation and maintenance of style guides, reference materials, and documentation that communicate the art direction to artists.

  • Define and maintain AAA quality standards for characters and weapons

  • Act as a creative problem solver without challenging the validated vision

  • Provide constructive reviews and art feedback to artists to align work with the vision.

  • Assist with scheduling art milestones, tracking deliverables and escalating risks related to art quality or pipeline issues.

  • Participate in cross-functional reviews (design, engineering, production) to advocate for artistic quality.

Team composition: Lead + Level artists + concept artists

Team work: Work closely with Concept, Character, Animation, rigger teams and Technical Art to ensure art quality and stylistic consistency.

Core Mandate (4 main missions)

  • Ensure the consistent application of the approved art direction

  • Provide senior-level expertise with immediate impact

  • Support and structure Level Art teams over a limited timeframe

  • Produce standards, guidelines, moodboards and ref that remain usable after the contract ends

Success Criteria (What are we expecting from you in the next months)

  • Translate the existing art direction (concept art) into clear, actionable rules

  • Quickly identify and correct quality gaps

  • Propose artistic solutions adapted to production constraints

  • Does not challenge the approved vision, but ensures its clarity and consistency

  • Integrate quickly into existing pipelines

  • Identify artistic and technical friction points

  • Help secure chara/weapons deliverables

  • Provide clarity in partially defined production contexts

Key information

  • Type of contract: Full time permanent position

  • Availability: ASAP (if available later, do not hesitate to apply!)

  • Location: Full remote possible (Europe only)

  • Compensation and Benefits:

    We partner with Deel to facilitate hiring globally, ensuring compliance with local labor laws and providing tailored benefits for each country. This collaboration allows us to offer competitive packages and seamless onboarding for our international team members, enhancing their employment experience no matter where they are located.

  • Few links about us

Preferred Experience

Hard skills

  • Mandatory (if a candidate doesn’t have it in his/her background, the hiring process will not continue)

    • Industry Experience: ~6–10+ years in game art roles (lead artist, senior artist) with shipped titles - preferably including AAA console/PC projects.
    • Leadership Exposure: Previous work leading art tasks, mentoring, or supervising artists within a game production environment.
    • Expertise in industry art tools such as Maya/3ds Max, Photoshop, Substance, and familiarity with proprietary or modern engines like Unreal.
    • Solid understanding of art pipelines, asset creation constraints, and performance considerations in real-time games.
    • Strong collaborative mindset, excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to articulate artistic decisions to artists, leads, and non-art stakeholders
  • Nice to have (if the candidate doesn’t have it, we can continue the hiring process)

    • Knowledge in concept art characters and weapons
    • Basic artistic principles

Recruitment Process

1. First conversation (20 min) by video call with Arthur (Recruiter): To learn more about your experience, your expectations and Novaquark

2. Technical interview (1 hour) with Mohamed (Lead Character Artist) To assess your technical skills and go deeper into our project

3. Hiring Manager interview (1 hour) with Jérémie (Art Director) To meet your future manager and to go deeper in our current context and the position itself

4. Production interview (1 hour) with François (Production Director) and Vincent (Head of Studio Novaquark) To meet your future manager and to go deeper in our current context and the position itself

Throughout the entire recruitment process, Arthur will ensure follow-up and coordination. Do not hesitate to send your portfolio in addition to your CV to showcase your creations!

Additional Information

  • Contract Type: Full-Time
  • Start Date: 23 February 2026
  • Location: Paris
  • Experience: > 7 years
  • Possible full remote