Live Ops Art Director / Illustrator
Red Games Co.
Full-time
Remote
United States
Graphic Design
We’re seeking a talented and highly organized Live Ops Art Director / Illustrator to lead the visual aspects of live-operated mobile titles. In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing a high volume of ongoing content updates while maintaining artistic quality. You will lead internal and external artists, manage pipelines, and be a hands-on contributor when needed. This role requires someone with a strong eye for illustration and graphic design, excellent communication and leadership skills, and experience optimizing content pipelines in a fast-paced, live ops environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Art Direction & Illustration: Define and maintain the visual style of live ops content (events, promotions, seasonal updates, etc.) through clear documentation, reference, and visual examples. Produce high-quality key art and illustrative assets as needed.
- Team & Vendor Management: Oversee internal artists and manage external vendors and freelancers, providing feedback, schedules, and direction to ensure consistent quality and on-time delivery.
- Pipeline Oversight: Optimize and maintain art pipelines for efficiency and scalability. Work closely with producers, engineers, and product managers to ensure smooth asset integration and delivery.
- Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the creative point of contact for live ops updates, collaborating with design, marketing, and product teams to align on visual needs and timelines.
- Creative Problem Solving: Balance creative ambition with production realities, making smart, strategic decisions that keep the content engaging while meeting deadlines.
- Quality Control: Review and approve final art assets to ensure they meet quality, branding, and technical requirements.
Qualifications
- 5+ years experience in game development or illustration, with at least 3 years in a live ops or mobile game environment.
- Strong illustration and visual design skills with a polished portfolio showcasing high-quality game or entertainment-related art.
- Experience managing artists and vendors, including writing briefs, giving clear feedback, and delivering consistent art direction.
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with art pipelines and asset management tools
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to clearly articulate vision and feedback
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management skills and ability to juggle multiple deadlines
- Experience with mobile free-to-play games and live content schedules is a major plus
- Familiarity with Unity