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Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist Jobs in California

INSPYR Solutions

3D Artist

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$50 - $80/hr

Title: 3D Artist Location: Remote US Duration: 8 months + Extensions Compensation: $50-80/hr Work ... Hard Surface Modeling: * Model assets with a focus on accuracy and realism. * Maintain clean ...

Moonlake AI

Technical Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$149.60K - $179.10K/yr

The Role We're looking for a Technical Artist / 3D Generalist who can create high-quality ... Strong 3D modeling skills across hard-surface, environment, and object creation * Ability to create ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

$50 - $65/hr

LA brings together artists, editors, and storytellers into one hyper-collaborative team ... What You'll Do: • Model new product ideas from sketches and scrap, including both hard surfaces ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

LA brings together artists, editors, and storytellers into one hyper-collaborative team ... What You'll Do: • Model new product ideas from sketches and scrap, including both hard surfaces ...

Chrome Hearts

CAD Designer - Machine Shop

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$29 - $40.25/hr

Submission of a portfolio showcasing aesthetic-driven 3D modeling projects, with an emphasis on artistic and hard-surface geometry. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS * Rhinoceros 7 (minimum of 2,000 hours)

AGBO Films LLC

Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded 3D artist with strong skills in modeling, surfacing, layout, and optimization, and a deep understanding of real-time production pipelines. You should be ...

AGBO

Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded 3D artist with strong skills in modeling, surfacing, layout, and optimization, and a deep understanding of real-time production pipelines. You should be ...

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Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist, you need a foundational understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, and digital sculpting, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, and Substance Painter is typically expected. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and good communication skills help you collaborate effectively and refine your work based on feedback. These skills and qualities are important to deliver high-quality, realistic assets that meet project specifications and contribute to the success of the creative team.

What are typical collaboration opportunities for an Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist within a game development team?

As an Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist, you will frequently collaborate with concept artists, environment artists, and technical artists to ensure your models fit the project’s visual style and technical requirements. You'll also work closely with animators and game designers to understand how your assets will be used in gameplay, leading to regular feedback sessions and revisions. This collaborative environment helps you build a strong professional network, learn best practices from experienced team members, and develop a holistic understanding of the game production pipeline.

What does an Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist do?

An Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist assists in creating digital models of objects with hard, defined surfaces, such as vehicles, machinery, weapons, or architectural elements for use in video games, films, or other digital media. Their work typically involves learning industry-standard 3D modeling software, following design specifications, and collaborating with senior artists and other team members. As apprentices, they focus on developing their modeling, texturing, and rendering skills while gaining practical experience in a professional studio environment.

What is the difference between Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist vs Junior 3D Modeler?

AspectApprentice 3D Hard Surface ArtistJunior 3D Modeler
CredentialsBasic knowledge of 3D software, portfolio, possibly related courseworkSimilar; often entry-level, focusing on modeling skills
Work EnvironmentGame, film, or design studios focusing on hard surface assetsGame or animation studios, general modeling tasks
Industry UsageUsed in industries requiring detailed hard surface models like vehicles, machineryUsed across various 3D modeling tasks, including organic and hard surface

The Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist specializes in creating detailed hard surface models like vehicles and machinery, often requiring specific knowledge of hard surface techniques. The Junior 3D Modeler has a broader focus on general 3D modeling, which may include organic and hard surface assets. While both roles are entry-level and share similar credentials, the apprentice role emphasizes developing specialized hard surface skills within a relevant industry environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs in California? The most popular types of 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs in California are:
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What job categories do people searching Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs? Cities in California with the most Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist job openings:
Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Apprentice 3D Hard Surface Artist job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
3D Artist

3D Artist

INSPYR Solutions

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$50 - $80/hr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Title: 3D Artist
Location: Remote US
Duration: 8 months + Extensions
Compensation: $50-80/hr
Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S.
HOW WE WORK
Our team is at the intersection between product and marketing, where a tremendous opportunity lies. We inspire through storytelling and enable through product. Our work takes shape through partnerships with product and marketing teams, helping them solve their people problems while achieving our brand goals. We're dedicated to our quest that bridges the gap between marketing and product to create in-product brand expressions.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
We are seeking a talented 3D Artist who can move fluidly between the worlds of product and marketing to bring the two closer together. This person will partner with design teams, marketers, and product teams to create hard surface modeling for industrial design assets. The ideal candidate excels in creating precise, visually compelling models of product-based objects, optimized for real-time applications. Expertise in retopology, UV creation, and texture baking is essential.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Hard Surface Modeling:
  • Model assets with a focus on accuracy and realism.
  • Maintain clean geometry and edge flow suitable for real-time rendering.
  • Retopology:
  • Optimize high-poly hard surface models into low-poly meshes for real-time use.
  • Ensure models meet technical requirements for polygon count, edge flow, and UV layout.
  • UV Creation:
  • Unwrap and layout UVs for hard surface assets, ensuring efficient use of texture space and minimal distortion.
  • Organize UV islands for optimal texture baking and real-time performance.
  • Texturing & Baking:
  • Bake high-quality textures from high-poly to low-poly assets.
  • Author PBR textures using industry-standard tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Designer, Photoshop).
  • Basic Rigging:
  • Set up simple skeletons and controls for hard surface assets to enable basic animation and posing.
  • Real-Time Optimization:
  • Balance visual fidelity with performance constraints for real-time engines
  • Implement best practices for LODs, texture atlases, and efficient material usage.
  • Work closely with technical artists, product visualization designers, producers, product marketers, product managers, and engineers to ensure assets integrate seamlessly into production pipelines.
  • Work cross-functionally, balancing the needs of stakeholders and breaking down complex narratives into simple, compelling ideas
  • Lead the 3D asset production from rendering models to launch in collaboration with technical artists, product visualization designers, producers, product marketers, product managers, and engineers

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • 5+ years experience in hard surface modeling, retopology, UV creation, and texture baking
  • Demonstrated experience in marketing, product and design
  • Portfolio features demonstrating hard surface models, advanced UV layouts, high-fidelity baked textures
  • Proficiency with 3D modeling software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya).
  • Advanced knowledge of retopology, UV unwrapping, and texture baking tools.
  • Strong understanding of PBR materials and workflows.
  • Strong understanding of real-time rendering constraints and optimization techniques.
  • Basic rigging skills for hard surface assets.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 7+ years of experience producing interactive assets for marketing, promotional, or showcase purposes.
  • Experience with mobile platforms or AR/VR
  • Experience with GLB/USDZ file formats
  • Proficient using AI tooling to improve efficiency of the asset production process

About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients' business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business, we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at inspyrsolutions.com.
INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
Information collected and processed through your application with INSPYR Solutions (including any job applications you choose to submit) is subject to INSPYR Solutions' Privacy Policy and INSPYR Solutions' AI and Automated Employment Decision Tool Policy: https://www.inspyrsolutions.com/policies/ . By submitting an application, you are consenting to being contacted by INSPYR Solutions through phone, email, or text.
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