Grinding Gear Games is looking to hire artists, designers, programmers and developers to support the development of Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 in our office in Auckland, New Zealand.

We’re offering relocation assistance for the right candidates. These are full-time roles in Henderson, Auckland. Please only apply if you currently reside in New Zealand/Auckland or are willing to relocate. We can assist with applying for work visas for these roles.

To apply for a role, please email your resume, portfolio/code samples and a cover letter to [email protected] with your name and the role you are applying for in the subject line.

Senior UI Artist

We are looking for a Senior UI artist to create intuitive and compelling skill icons, item icons and web design in Path of Exile.
We are seeking someone with:

• 3 years of UI work in games, or 5 years of work experience in a related field (advertising, video editing, animation)
• A superior eye for lighting, value, colour, details, and the ability to use them in creating efficient and impactful User Interfaces
• Self-motivation and self-reliance.
• An ability to research and learn new tools quickly.
• Excellent communication skills, and ability to manage and work within a team
• Passion for creating dark and gritty, yet visually-clear and compelling icons and interfaces
• A deep understanding of the game we produce (Path of Exile)

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Senior 3D Character Modeller

We are looking for a Senior 3D Character Modeller to help create character and creature models for Path of Exile.
We are seeking someone with:

• 5+ years of professional experience in a Character Artist role.
• Experience with one or more outsource management project in game or film industry
• A solid understanding of topology, materials, textures, proportion, and anatomy + animation and game limitations
• A strong proficiency with Maya, Zbrush, Marvelous Designer, Photoshop, and Substance Painter
• Great communication, organisation and management skills with the ability to help mentor your colleagues
• An ability to identify any risks and issues in the out-source pipeline and proactively seek solutions
• An understanding of game art production process and pipeline and a passion for games
• A strong artistic vision to translate both organic and hard surface characters from concept to game-ready assets
• Solid knowledge of high-poly modelling and digital sculpting, An exceptional understanding of human anatomy, and a strong understanding of form, shape, structure, and silhouette in regard to modelling
• A superior eye for value, colour, and detail in creating textures - combined with a strong understanding of PBR
• An ability to perform under pressure to meet deadlines
• An ability to embrace and provide constructive artistic feedback

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

Senior Material Artist

We are looking for a Senior Materials Artist to join us onsite at our studio in Auckland.
We are seeking someone with:

• Experience as a Materials Artist
• 4 years experience as a 3D Art Generalist or Environment Artist in professional AAA video games or cinematics, animation or VFX studios
• A solid grasp of colour and other physical material properties as they relate to games
• Proficiency at creating both stylized and PBR materials using Substance Designer, Substance Painter and Photoshop
• Expert knowledge in node-based material editors, tiling layered materials, shader networks and procedural texturing
• An ability to be inspired by growth and excellence and thrive on sharing your knowledge with your teammates while continually honing your craft
• Iterating, communicating and creating together is what drives your passion for art and games
• Knowledge in the key professional tools, techniques and asset creation pipelines: Maya, Zbrush, game engine (eg UE/Unity/proprietary), Marvelous Designer, modelling, baking, texturing, UV creation, unwrapping
• A proactive and self-reliant attitude with good problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to in a team environment
• Kickass portfolio showcasing your Environment assets as well as your ability to create and apply high-quality materials to assets

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

Senior 3D Animator

We’re after Senior 3D Animators to join us at our studio. A Senior Animator is responsible for creating animation assets and working with the Creative Director, Animation Lead, Designers, and Riggers to realise characters, creatures/monsters, or special effects.
We are seeking someone with:

• 7 years of animation experience in a professional studio
• Solid body mechanics and experience animating general combat, melee weapons and magic for human characters and creatures
• Proven experience in a professional game production pipeline and the ability to create high-quality animation
• Fluent in Maya
• The ability to take constructive criticism and maintain a professional attitude
• Independently self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills

Must have examples of human and creature animation, as well as examples of hand-keyed combat, gameplay animation on your Reel.
Must be willing to complete an animation test if requested to do so.

3D Item Artists

We’re looking for 3D Item Artists to work with our Items team for Path of Exile.
We are seeking someone with:

• 5+ years of professional experience in computer games
• Experience with modelling items/props, weapons, outfits, armours - things that would be equipped/worn by characters
• Strong proficiency with Maya, Zbrush, Marvelous Designer, Photoshop, and Substance Painter. 3D Studio Max is a plus
• Experience with one or more outsourcing management projects in game or film industry
• Solid understanding of topology, materials, textures
• Great communication, organisation and management skills with the ability to help mentor your colleagues
• An ability to identify any risks and issues in the outsourcing pipeline and proactively seek solutions
• An understanding of game art production process and pipeline and a passion for games
• A strong artistic vision to translate both organic and hard surface assets from concept to game-ready
• Solid knowledge of high-poly modelling and digital sculpting, an exceptional understanding of form, shape, structure, and silhouette in regard to modelling
• A superior eye for value, colour, and detail in creating textures - combined with a strong understanding of PBR
• An ability to perform under pressure to meet deadlines
• An ability to embrace and provide constructive artistic feedback

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

Game Lighting Artist/Environment Designer

We’re looking for an experienced Lighting Artist/Environment Designer to join us at our studio to work on our next major release, Path of Exile 2.
We are seeking someone with:

• 1 year minimum experience in a professional video game studio production pipeline
• Experience with level or room creation in games
• An understanding how to create efficient and impactful lighting that enhances narratives
• Working knowledge of Maya and real-time game authoring environments like the Path of Exile hideout creation tool
• A firm grasp of colour, materials and light as it relates to level design and lighting in games
• Passion and an ability to light realistic, ‘dark and gritty’ visually appealing scenes and environments like dungeons and ancient ruins
• A good understanding of lighting fundamentals
• Sound knowledge of colour theory and a strong sense of light and shadow
• Sound technical skills and highly organised
• An ability to take constructive criticism and maintain a professional attitude
• A proactive and self-reliant attitude with good problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work within a team environment

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic/technical skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

VFX Artist - Games

We’re after experienced VFX artists to create evocative visual effects in the dark and gritty game Path of Exile. You will develop real-time effects from concept to implementation and work to maintain a consistent aesthetic across all of the effects in the game. The ideal candidate has a firm grasp of colour, texture, timing and impact as relates to VFX and demonstrates an ability to sketch and storyboard to convey design ideas.
We are seeking someone with:

• Three years of experience creating VFX for games
• Experience creating real-time game effects in a wide range of software
• A superior eye for lighting, value, colour, details, and the ability to use them in creating efficient and impactful visual effects
• Self-motivation, excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team
• A positive attitude and able to receive and provide objective feedback
• Passion for creating dark and gritty spells and microtransactions

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

Level Designer

We seek a Level Designer to create content for Path of Exile. You will develop randomised levels with high replayability while maintaining the Path of Exile aesthetic across the game. We are looking for an avid gamer that has a deep understanding of Path of Exile and its themes.
We are seeking someone with:

• 2+ years (minimum) of game industry experience
• Game design sensibilities
• Experience using Maya or a high level of proficiency in a similar 3D modelling tool
• A proactive and self-reliant attitude
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• An ability to work within a team environment

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art/design test if requested to do so.

3D Environment Artist

We are looking for experienced 3D Environment Artists to join us onsite at our studio.
We are seeking someone with:

• 3 years of industry experience creating quality 3D environments and other assets
• Strong proven ability using Photoshop, Maya, Substance
• An ability to research and learn new tools quickly
• Proven 3D modelling expertise in organic matter and also hard surface
• An ability to take direction and work well within a team-focused environment
• Solid artistic skills with a strong understanding of real-world materials are essential and must be demonstrated in your portfolio
• A willingness to help mentor less experienced artists if required
• Passion and an ability to drive realistic, ‘dark and gritty’ visually appealing environments, items, characters and monster designs.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to evaluate time requirements
• A proactive and self-reliant attitude
• Excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team environment

Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.
Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so.

C++ Gameplay or UI Programmers

We are looking for an experienced C++ Gameplay or User Interface Programmer to join our incredibly talented team.
We are seeking someone with:

• Strong knowledge of modern C++
• Excellent communication skills
• 6-months (min) of commercial game programming experience in a professional studio

Must be able to pass our technical C++ programming test (approximately one hour long).

Android/Mobile Programmer

We are looking for experienced Android/mobile programmers to join our incredibly talented team.
We are seeking someone with:

• Strong knowledge of modern C++
• Excellent communication skills
• 3 years of mobile game programming experience in a professional studio, with at least 1 successfully published Android title

Must be able to pass a technical test.

Mobile UI Programmer

We are looking for experienced mobile UI/UX programmers to join our incredibly talented team.
We are seeking someone with:

• Strong knowledge of modern C++ and an ability to quickly prototype interface ideas and examples
• Strong understanding of UI/graphic design including (but not limited to): typography, colour usage, understanding of aesthetic, and conceptualising
• An understanding of ergonomic, non-restrictive and user friendly design
• Excellent communication skills
• 3 years of mobile game programming experience in a professional studio, with at least 1 successfully published mobile title

Must be able to pass a technical test.

Web Developer

We are looking for a full stack Web Developer to join the Path of Exile development team.
We are seeking someone with:

• Experience with PHP MVC / ORM frameworks (preferably Zend Framework / Laminas / Doctrine).
• Front-end JavaScript and CSS / SASS experience.
• One year of commercial Web Developer experience.

Experience with the following is a bonus:

• Linux and command-line tools
• SQL
• API design
• Payment Systems
• RequireJS
• Nginx
• Redis
• Path of Exile