Intermediate 2D Unity Artist (9-month contract)

Important: This is a 9-month contract role for Ontario-based independent contractors only. Contractors are responsible for managing their own taxes, CPP contributions, and any other statutory obligations.

Location & Hours: This is a hybrid position with in-person collaboration required at our Toronto office (Queens Quay West) a minimum of three (3) days per week for the duration of the 4-month contract. Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

About Us: Making fans - That’s what we’re all about! Since our humble beginnings in 2011, these two words have driven Big Viking Games to become the successful company it is today. We are focused on making our mark as a next-generation, live operations games company.

We believe that each Viking is unique and brings exponential value to the company. In return, we provide Vikings with the opportunity to solve problems through continuous learning and fostering feedback, ultimately mastering their craft. By investing in our Vikings and in new technologies, we can continue our success for years to come.

We are embarking on an adventure and rely on our team of skilled, enthusiastic, and collaborative Vikings to turn our ship towards a new horizon.

About the Role:

We are seeking a versatile and technically skilled Intermediate 2D Unity Artist to support the development of a life simulation and virtual world game on a 9-month contract. This role requires a strong generalist who can bridge the gap between creative vision and technical implementation within the Unity engine. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the 2D asset pipeline, is comfortable implementing their own work, and is driven by quality and performance optimization.

What You’ll Do:

• Asset Creation & Implementation: Create a wide range of high-quality 2D assets, including characters, environments, and props, ensuring artistic cohesion with the established style.
• Unity Integration: Take ownership of implementing 2D art assets directly into the Unity environment, utilizing features like Sprite Renderer, Tilemaps, and Sorting Layers.
• Animation: Develop and implement 2D animations entirely using Unity's native animation tools for characters and visual effects.
• Workflow Management: Utilize Jira for task tracking, GitHub for version control, and Confluence for documentation and collaboration throughout the art production process.
• Collaboration: Work closely with programmers and designers to address visual feedback, technical limitations, and ensure art assets support gameplay requirements effectively.
• Optimization: Identify and resolve technical art issues related to performance, memory usage, and visual fidelity within Unity.

The Must-Haves:

• Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience as a 2D Artist or Technical Artist in the game industry.
• Unity Expertise: Expert proficiency with the Unity engine, specifically working with 2D toolsets, including setting up scenes, lighting, sorting, and scene management.
• Art Proficiency: Exceptional ability to create high-quality 2D art assets (illustration, pixel art, vectors, etc.) and adapt to the specific art style of a life simulation game.
• Technical Art: Strong understanding of PBR workflows for 2D (if applicable) and familiarity with creating/implementing Particle Systems and Visual Effects (VFX) within Unity.
• Software Proficiency: Proficiency in industry-standard art tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, plus direct professional experience with Jira, GitHub, and Confluence.

Desired Soft Skills:

• Strong attention to detail, so you'll notice we'd like you to mention "Kattegat" in your application.
• Strong work ethic, highly self-motivated, proactive, and capable of managing multiple tasks and deadlines in a hybrid work environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to clearly articulate technical and artistic decisions to the Art Director and the wider team.

Bonus points if you've got:

• Experience working on a shipped or live-service title.

Benefits:

• Regular in-person collaboration with a high-performing, passionate team at our downtown Toronto office.
• High-impact work on established live-ops games.
• Access to BVG tools, documentation, and support to do your best work.
• Potential for future contracts or longer-term engagement, based on performance and business needs.

Ready to set sail? Apply now and help steer our next wave of live-ops success!

Big Viking Games is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. We welcome applications from individuals of all abilities and will provide accommodations throughout the hiring process as needed. If you require any accommodations, please email hr@bigvikinggames.com so we can work with you to support your needs.