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Hard Surface Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epoch Games

3D Hard Surface Artist

Winston Salem, NC · On-site

We are looking for 3D Artists skilled in creating Hard Surface assets and textures, such as Architecture, Clothing, Armor, Weapons, Shields, Tools, etc. Communication is key to a smooth and efficient ...

Centuri Group, Inc.

Hard Surface Crew Laborer

Logan, WV · On-site

$15.75 - $20.25/hr

As a Hard Surface Gas Utility Laborer , you'll receive 1-4 weeks of paid training , equipping you with the essential skills to work safely and efficiently in the field - protecting yourself, your ...

Centuri Group, Inc.

Hard Surface Crew Laborer

Clarksburg, WV · On-site

$17.50 - $22.25/hr

As a Hard Surface Crew Laborer , you'll receive 1-4 weeks of paid training , equipping you with the essential skills to work safely and efficiently in the field - protecting yourself, your crew, and ...

Centuri Group, Inc.

Hard Surface Crew Operator

Logan, WV · On-site

$19.75 - $25.25/hr

Who We Are Connecting People to Possibility As a publicly traded company (NYSE: CTRI) with $3 billion in revenue, Centuri leads the way in utility and energy infrastructure across North America. What ...

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How much do hard surface jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for hard surface in the United States is $22.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges faced by hard surface artists in a production environment?

Hard surface artists often encounter challenges such as balancing creative vision with technical requirements, meeting tight deadlines, and ensuring models are optimized for performance across different platforms. Collaborating closely with other departments, like animation and texturing, is essential to ensure assets function seamlessly within the project pipeline. Staying up-to-date with the latest software tools and industry standards is also important, as workflows and expectations constantly evolve in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Hard Surface Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hard Surface Artist, you need strong 3D modeling skills, an understanding of form and materials, and typically a background in art, design, or a related field. Proficiency in software like Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, and texturing tools such as Substance Painter is essential. Attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure the creation of high-quality, realistic assets that meet project specifications and contribute to visually compelling environments in games, films, or visualization projects.

What is the difference between Hard Surface vs Tile Installer?

AspectHard SurfaceTile Installer
CredentialsMay include certifications in flooring or constructionOften requires specific tile installation certifications or training
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, residential and commercial projectsPrimarily indoor, working on floors, walls, and backsplashes
Industry UsageBroadly used in flooring, countertops, and surfacingSpecialized in tile and stone installation
Search/Comparison IntentGeneral flooring and surfacingSpecific to tile and stone work

Hard Surface workers encompass a wide range of flooring and surfacing projects, including tile, wood, and laminate. Tile Installers focus specifically on installing tiles and stones. While both roles share similar environments and credentials, Hard Surface workers have a broader scope, whereas Tile Installers specialize in tile work.

What are hard surface artists?

Hard surface artists are professionals in the digital art and 3D modeling industry who specialize in creating non-organic objects, such as vehicles, weapons, machinery, and architectural structures. Unlike character or organic modelers who focus on natural forms, hard surface artists use specialized techniques and software to design crisp, precise, and often mechanical models for video games, movies, and animation. Their work is crucial in bringing detailed, realistic, and functional-looking items to life in various digital projects.
What job categories do people searching Hard Surface jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Hard Surface jobs are:
Hard Surface jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hard Surface job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,007 per year, or $22.6 per hour.
3D Hard Surface Artist

3D Hard Surface Artist

Epoch Games

Winston Salem, NC • On-site

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Company Description

Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. We have no centrally-located headquarters and are unincorporated at this time. The founding members were modders developing the total conversion Middle Earth Roleplaying Project (MERP) mod for the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/merp-middle-earth-roleplaying-project
Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5):
https://www.unrealengine.com/
For more information about the game, please check out our IndieDb page:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-lays-of-althas-sundered-order
NOTE: Although Epoch Games does have a formal office at the listed address, we have a fully-online team at this time. Communication is mostly done via Slack (an instant messaging application) and Trello (an online project collaboration tool).

Job Description

In this volunteer position you will be asked to create a variety of high-quality, textured 3D assets for the The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO), being developed in Unreal Engine. We are looking for 3D Artists skilled in creating Hard Surface assets and textures, such as Architecture, Clothing, Armor, Weapons, Shields, Tools, etc.

Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline. You must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with other team-members and not be afraid to ask should any problems arise. We are an English-speaking team, so English fluency is a must.

If you are comfortable with teaching, you may be called upon to aid the more junior members of the team in any relevant area.

Other duties include following team policies (given through team orientation as upon acceptance to the team) as well as attending meetings through Slack (our instant message program that we use to communicate)

This is a volunteer position, so no monetary compensation is being offered. We also cannot offer any work visas.

At this time, we are having to rely upon free (or previously licensed) software. Please refer to the applications listed below for guidelines. We do not endorse piracy in any shape or form.

Qualifications

Minimum Skill Requirements:

  • High-quality 3D modeling hard-surface assets
  • Physically-based Rendering (PBR) experience for game modeling/sculpting
  • Previous experience working with low-poly/game-ready assets
  • Full Texturing ability (Diffuse, Normal, Displacement etc)
  • Able to work effectively and accurately from pre-defined concept art and designs
  • Able to work with and provide constructive criticism and feedback
  • Communication and Team-collaboration skills
  • A passion for modeling and a dedication to creating AAA quality games

Required Software:

  • Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5: https://www.unrealengine.com/register
  • 3D Modeling Software: Autodesk 3DS Max/Maya, Blender, Pixologic ZBrush/Mudbox, etc.
  • 2D Image Creation Software: Photoshop (CS4 and up), GIMP, etc.

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

  • The ability to run Unreal Engine 5
  • The ability to run 3D Modeling Software and 2D Image Creation Software
  • The disk space and Internet Speeds to download (pull) about 10 GB of game files
Additional Information

All of your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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