Freelance 2D Animation Artist Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Epic Games is searching for an exceptionally talented and technically proficient Senior Hard Surface Artist to join our development team working on an unannounced, era-defining project built in collaboration with Disney. Based out of our global headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, this position places you at the epicenter of a historic creative cross‑over, shaping the next generation of digital assets within the expanding Fortnite ecosystem. Epic Games jobs.

In this senior role, you will partner closely with art, design, animation, technical animation, and production teams to build a steady stream of elite, high‑quality mechanical and organic asset content. You will be responsible for bringing complex vehicles, weapons, gadgets, and technical props to life through exceptional high‑and‑low poly modeling, PBR texturing, and masterful artistic execution. Epic Games jobs

Beyond solo asset creation, you will help establish the visual standards and technical benchmarks for hyper‑realistic hard surface content across the entire project pipeline. If you have a passion for flawless mechanical functional design, deep experience with real‑time optimization budgets, and a desire to see your work used by hundreds of millions of players globally, we want you to join our world‑class team. Epic Games jobs.

For a quick, comprehensive reference regarding the operational parameters of this open position, please review the core parameters outlined below:

Key Metric Specification & Details

Hiring Company Epic Games

Product Ecosystem Fortnite (Special, Unannounced Project Collaboration with Disney)

Job Title Senior Hard Surface Artist

Location Cary, North Carolina, United States (On‑site / Hybrid)

Core Department Art & Animation

Primary Asset Focus Weapons, Vehicles, Gadgets, and Complex Mechanical Elements

Secondary Asset Focus Simple to moderately complex organic meshes to support world‑building

Primary Engine Unreal Engine 5 Ecosystem

Core Toolsets Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Plasticity, ZBrush, and PBR Texturing suites

Cross‑Team Alignment Animation, Tech Animation, VFX, Level Design, and Production

Note: Epic Games strictly adheres to all regional pay equity and transparency regulations. Finalized financial offers are formally detailed during the final stages of the selection process.

Your day‑to‑day operations as a Senior Hard Surface Artist will blend hands‑on modeling, technical pipeline problem‑solving, and cross‑discipline alignment.

• Weapon & Vehicle Creation: Model highly detailed, premium‑quality hard surface assets, including advanced weapons systems, drivable vehicles, complex gadgets, and interactive mechanical set pieces.
• Functional Articulation: Ensure all mechanical assets are built with logical pivot points, moving parts, and clear paneling to provide robust animation and technical animation support during downstream rigged movement.
• Hybrid Sculpting: Seamlessly blend hard surface elements with simple to moderately complex organic meshes as needed to support specific gameplay, creature design, or immersive world‑building constraints.

• PBR Material Excellence: Author hyper‑realistic textures and materials utilizing modern Physically Based Rendering (PBR) workflows, focusing heavily on realistic surface wear, edge scratching, metallic properties, and complex material weathering.
• Concept Translation: Take rough 2D concept sketches or 3D look‑development kits and translate them into final, production‑ready in‑game assets without sacrificing the stylistic essence of the original art direction.

• Cross‑Discipline Syncing: Work in intimate coordination with Gameplay, Animation, Technical Art, and Visual Effects (VFX) teams to ensure all assets fulfill strict functional design and visual requirements.
• Pipeline Problem‑Solving: Help drive overall quality standards and actively contribute to visual or technical problem‑solving when integrating hard surface meshes into the real‑time engine ecosystem.

Professional Qualifications

Communication & Synergy: Highly developed collaboration, verbal, and written communication skills, with a native ability to comfortably collaborate across multiple engineering and artistic disciplines simultaneously.

Elite Hard Surface Mastery: Exceptional, production‑proven hard surface modeling skills with a deep portfolio demonstrating complex mechanical assets explicitly built for modern games or high‑end real‑time environments.

DCC Tool Fluidity: Expert‑level proficiency utilizing industry‑standard 3D software suites, including tools like Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, ZBrush, or specialized CAD modeling platforms like Plasticity.

PBR Texturing Expertise: Outstanding understanding of modern texturing pipelines, texel density requirements, UV layout optimization, and the realistic creation of materials.

End‑to‑End Asset Delivery: Proven ability to autonomously guide an asset through the entire creation pipeline—from raw conceptual block‑out to final implementation, bug‑fixing, and technical engine optimization.

Animation‑Ready Design: Demonstrable experience structuring functional mechanical meshes engineered to easily receive bones, joints, and complex rig controls for smooth animation sequences.

Epic Games treats our talent as our greatest resource. Our comprehensive benefits program is built to support your health, family, and long‑term well‑being, covering 100% of insurance premiums for you and your legal dependents:

• 100% Studio‑Paid Premiums: Zero out‑of‑pocket deductions from your paycheck for premium Medical, Dental, and a Vision Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
• Financial Foundations: Peace of mind via comprehensive Long‑Term Disability, generous Life Insurance coverage, and a robust 401(k) plan featuring a highly competitive company match.
• Holistic Mental Health: Full studio integration with Modern Health, providing completely free, confidential private therapy sessions, mental wellness coaching, and resources for employees and their dependents.
• Uncapped Recharging: Experience true work‑life balance through our unlimited PTO and sick time policies, enhanced by regular, studio‑wide paid breaks and community milestone events.
• 7‑Year Sabbatical: We reward loyalty. Employees reaching their 7th year of continuous service with Epic Games unlock a fully paid, extended lifestyle sabbatical.

Epic Games operates across 25 countries with 46 world‑class studios and more than 4,500 employees globally. For over 25 years, we have been crafting award‑winning games and game engine technology that empowers creators to bring 3D environments to life like never before.

Our award‑winning Unreal Engine technology does not just give game developers the capability to build high‑fidelity interactive experiences across PC, console, mobile, and virtual reality; it is also a vital tool being embraced by forward‑thinking content creators across a massive array of industries—including media, film, television entertainment, automotive design, and high‑end architectural visualization.

As we continue to advance our core engine technology and build remarkable new digital game experiences, we strive to construct diverse, inclusive teams of world‑class global talent. Come be a part of something Epic!

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic Games does not accept any unsolicited resumes or casual approaches from unauthorized third‑party placement or recruitment agencies with whom we do not hold a validly executed, negotiated agreement. Epic will not pay any fees to unauthorized third parties.