3D Environmental Artist

Key Responsibilities

• Create and modify 3D models for airport terminals, control towers, hangars, buildings, signage, lighting, fencing, vehicles, and surrounding infrastructure.
• Produce optimized assets suitable for real-time simulation while maintaining high visual quality.
• Create and apply textures, materials, and lighting using modern PBR workflows.
• Develop reusable asset libraries for common airport structures and environmental objects.
• Assemble airport environments from source imagery, engineering drawings, GIS data, and reference photography.
• Place and align airport objects according to the design guidance provided by senior VDB Developers.
• Build terrain features, roadways, parking areas, vegetation, and surrounding landmarks.
• Implement runway markings, taxiway signage, lighting systems, and airport infrastructure.
• Support development of airport environments for all designated FAA Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs).
• Improve visual quality through texture refinement, lighting adjustments, and asset optimization.
• Support development of environmental effects including day/night operations, seasonal conditions, and weather visualization.
• Assist with animation of environmental objects and airport assets where required.
• Optimize models to maintain required simulation performance.
• Support verification of models for proper scale, placement, texture mapping, and rendering performance.
• Correct visual defects identified during QA reviews.
• Participate in iterative design reviews with senior developers and subject matter experts.
• Ensure all assets comply with established modeling, naming, and performance standards.
• Maintain models, textures, and supporting files within the program configuration management system.
• Package assets for integration into the Visual Database.
• Maintain organized project documentation and asset libraries.
• Work closely with senior VDB Developers, Scenario Developers, Systems Engineers, and software developers.
• Participate in Agile sprint planning, backlog refinement, and design reviews.
• Rapidly implement airport modifications and visual updates.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Game Art, Digital Media, Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Environmental Design, Architecture, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or a related technical or artistic discipline.
• A related technical or artistic discipline may be considered with an Associate's degree, technical certification, portfolio, or equivalent practical experience.
• Ideal candidates will demonstrate knowledge, coursework, internships, or personal project work in 3D modeling, rendering, or environment creation for games, simulation, visualization, or digital media.
• Modern 3D modeling software such as Blender, Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, or equivalent.
• Understanding of real-time rendering and performance optimization techniques.
• Ability to accurately implement designs and direction provided by senior VDB Developers.
• Strong artistic eye for detail, scale, lighting, and environmental realism.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative team player capable of working across multidisciplinary teams including VDB Developers, Scenario Developers, Systems Engineers, and software developers.