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Freelance Unreal Engine Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The role emphasizes C++ development for Unreal plugins, thoughtful tool design for artists, and an ... Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in‑engine panels in C++ to support animation and ...

The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 (UE4): For more information about the game, please check out our IndieDb page: NOTE: The address listed is our central office, but we are ...

Unreal Engine Level Designer

Winston Salem, NC · On-site

$93K/yr

... with 3D Artists letting them know assets that are still needed. If you are comfortable with ... Unreal Engine 4 Blueprint Scripting experience * Quixel Megascans Asset Library usage * Heightmap ...

This role is for a software engineer specializing in Unreal Engine (C++), not a designer or artist. The developer will be responsible for implementing core simulation logic, system integrations, and ...

Unreal Engine Developer

AL · Remote

$120K - $160K/yr

ORA_REMOTE Description SAIC is seeking an Unreal Engine 4/5 Developer for our team in Huntsville ... artists on developing serious games and virtual trainers for the Army and other DoD customers.

Senior Unreal Engine Developer

AL · Remote

$120K - $160K/yr

ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC is seeking an Unreal Engine Developer to join our team. The Army Game ... artists on developing serious games and virtual trainers for the Army and other DoD customers.

New

Develop and maintain integrations between Unreal Engine and production tracking systems, including ShotGrid (Flow). * Partner with artists, production teams and technical stakeholders to understand ...

Develop and maintain integrations between Unreal Engine and production tracking systems, including ShotGrid (Flow). * Partner with artists, production teams and technical stakeholders to understand ...

Our team blends cutting-edge technology with artistic craftsmanship to create immersive, real-time ... The Senior Unreal Developer plays a pivotal role in shaping Imerza's Unreal Engine development ...

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Freelance Unreal Engine Artist information

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How much do freelance unreal engine artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance unreal engine artist in the United States is $22.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $18.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do freelance Unreal Engine artists typically manage client expectations and project timelines?

Freelance Unreal Engine Artists often juggle multiple projects with varying client expectations, so clear communication is crucial from the outset. Establishing detailed project briefs, setting realistic milestones, and providing regular progress updates help manage timelines and reduce misunderstandings. Additionally, using project management tools and maintaining transparent documentation ensures both parties stay aligned, which is especially important when working remotely or with international clients. It's common to encounter shifting requirements, so flexibility and proactive problem-solving are valuable assets in this role.

What is a freelance Unreal Engine artist?

A Freelance Unreal Engine Artist is a self-employed professional who specializes in creating 3D environments, assets, animations, and visual effects using Unreal Engine, a popular real-time 3D creation tool. They typically work on a contract basis for game studios, architectural firms, filmmakers, or other clients needing high-quality interactive visuals. Their tasks may include modeling, texturing, lighting, and sometimes scripting to bring digital worlds to life. Freelancers have the flexibility to choose projects and clients, often working remotely. This role requires both artistic skill and technical expertise in Unreal Engine.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance Unreal Engine artist?

To thrive as a Freelance Unreal Engine Artist, you need expertise in 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, and a strong command of Unreal Engine, often supported by a portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with tools like Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, and version control systems, as well as knowledge of Blueprints or C++ scripting, is commonly required. Creativity, self-motivation, time management, and effective communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with clients and meeting project deadlines. These skills are crucial for delivering high-quality, visually compelling assets and maintaining successful client relationships in a competitive freelance market.

What is the difference between Freelance Unreal Engine Artist vs Freelance 3D Modeler?

AspectFreelance Unreal Engine ArtistFreelance 3D Modeler
SkillsUnreal Engine, real-time rendering, environment designModeling, texturing, sculpting
ToolsUnreal Engine, 3D software (Maya, Blender)
Work EnvironmentGame development, virtual production, visualization
Industry UsageGaming, film, virtual reality

While both roles involve 3D skills, a Freelance Unreal Engine Artist specializes in creating interactive environments and assets within Unreal Engine, focusing on real-time rendering. A Freelance 3D Modeler primarily creates static or animated models used across various platforms. The Unreal Engine Artist requires knowledge of game engines and real-time workflows, whereas the 3D Modeler emphasizes modeling and texturing skills. Both roles are essential in the digital content creation industry but serve different project needs.

More about Freelance Unreal Engine Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Unreal Engine Artist jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Unreal Engine Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Unreal Engine Artist jobs? The most popular types of Unreal Engine Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Unreal Engine Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Unreal Engine Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Freelance Unreal Engine Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,772 per year, or $23 per hour.

Unreal Engine Developer

Eliassen Group

San Diego, CA • On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

Description:

Hybrid 3 days preferred, flex in San Diego, CA

Our client seeks a seasoned Unreal Engine Developer to build developer tooling and panels that run inside Unreal Engine to support animation and live action workflows. The role emphasizes C++ development for Unreal plugins, thoughtful tool design for artists, and an ability to understand production sequences and pipelines. You will collaborate with a tight, cohesive team and contribute to a multi‑year initiative related to studio work in Los Angeles. The engagement starts as a one‑year contract with potential for extension. Conversion may be considered based on performance and mutual interest.

We can facilitate w2 and corp-to-corp consultants. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $65.00 to $75.00/hr. w2

Responsibilities:
  • Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in‑engine panels in C++ to support animation and live action production workflows.
  • Build tools that integrate with existing pipelines and are intuitive for artists and technical users.
  • Leverage AI‑enabled development practices and call external libraries and services where appropriate, including Python integrations when needed.
  • Collaborate with engineers and artists to define requirements and iterate on tool usability and performance.
  • Ensure code quality, testability, and maintainability across plugins and tooling.
  • Troubleshoot performance and sequencing issues within Unreal projects.
Experience Requirements:
  • Strong C++ experience with shipped tools or plugins inside Unreal Engine.
  • Hands‑on experience creating in‑engine UI panels or editor extensions for production use.
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, sequencing concepts, and how artists work within Unreal.
  • Background using or integrating AI‑powered libraries and services. Ability to call models and APIs without building new models.
  • Ability to integrate Python or other scripting where appropriate.
  • Creative problem solver with solid mathematics foundation and demonstrated depth of thinking.
  • Senior‑level experience preferred. Able to communicate tradeoffs and mentor junior contributors.
Recruitment Transparency Notice
 
Eliassen Group values transparency in our recruitment practices. Please be advised that Eliassen Group utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of its initial application screening and hiring process. You may receive email and SMS notifications from the Eliassen Virtual Recruiting Team (noreply@eliassen.com, 781-808-2924) inviting you to complete a brief voice screening as part of your application process. These tools assist our hiring teams in different ways, including but not limited to, assistance in reviewing application materials to help identify candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position. All AI-assisted evaluations and responses are reviewed by human recruiters before any hiring decisions are made. The use of AI in our process is intended to support fairness, efficiency, and consistency, and Eliassen Group takes measures to prevent bias or discrimination in connection with its hiring practices. By proceeding, you acknowledge, agree, and consent to Eliassen Group’s use of these tools, including AI tools, as part of the application and hiring process.
 

Skills, experience, and other compensable factors will be considered when determining pay rate. The pay range provided in this posting reflects a W2 hourly rate; other employment options may be available that may result in pay outside of the provided range.W2 employees of Eliassen Group who are regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week are eligible for the following benefits: medical (choice of 3 plans), dental, vision, pre-tax accounts, other voluntary benefits including life and disability insurance, 401(k) with match, and sick time if required by law in the worked-in state/locality.If anyone reaches out to you about an open position connected with Eliassen Group, please ensure that you are working directly with us by confirming the following:

· When you work with Eliassen Group, all email communication will come from an Eliassen.com address, never Gmail, Yahoo, etc.

· Eliassen Group will never ask you for personal information (home address, bank account, or check routing number) until you have worked with someone clearly associated with Eliassen Group.

If you have any indication of fraudulent activity, please contact fraud@eliassen.com.

 
About Eliassen Group:
 
Eliassen Group is a strategic consulting firm that helps organizations reach further and achieve more through our technology, business advisory, and life sciences solutions. For nearly 40 years, we have combined exceptional people, deep domain expertise, and intelligent capabilities to expand our clients’ capacity and accelerate meaningful outcomes. We are driven by a purpose to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities we serve.
 
Eliassen is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and all employment decisions are based on merit, performance, and business needs. Eliassen does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual preference or orientation, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), marital status, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, prohibited criminal record inquiries of applicants and employees, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws.
 
Don’t miss out on our referral program! If we hire a candidate that you refer us to then you can be eligible for a $1,000 referral check!
 

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About Eliassen Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eliassen Group provides strategic consulting and talent solutions to drive our clients' innovation and business results. Our purpose is to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities in which we operate. Leveraging over 30 years of success, our expertise in talent solutions, life sciences consulting, Agile consulting, cloud services, risk management, business optimization, and managed services enables us to partner with our clients to execute their business strategy and scale effectively. Headquartered in Reading, MA, and with offices from coast to coast, Eliassen Group offers local community presence and deep networks, as well as national reach.

Industry

It services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Reading, MA, US

Year founded

1989