1

Lead 3D Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$20.75 - $28.50/hr

The CGI Supervisor is responsible for the technical and artistic quality of all 3D computer ... Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of CGI artists, including modeling, texturing ...

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$20.75 - $28.25/hr

The CGI Supervisor is responsible for the technical and artistic quality of all 3D computer ... Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of CGI artists, including modeling, texturing ...

Level Design Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Lit 3d scenes that are optimized for mobile devices. * Edit or create high-quality and optimized 3D ... Work with your Art Lead and Art Director in establishing and maintaining the look of the project.

Level Design Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Lit 3d scenes that are optimized for mobile devices. * Edit or create high-quality and optimized 3D ... Work with your Art Lead and Art Director in establishing and maintaining the look of the project.

Lit 3d scenes that are optimized for mobile devices. * Edit or create high-quality and optimized 3D ... Work with your Art Lead and Art Director in establishing and maintaining the look of the project.

Level Design Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Lit 3d scenes that are optimized for mobile devices. * Edit or create high-quality and optimized 3D ... Work with your Art Lead and Art Director in establishing and maintaining the look of the project.

Level Design Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Lit 3d scenes that are optimized for mobile devices. * Edit or create high‑quality and optimized ... Work with your Art Lead and Art Director in establishing and maintaining the look of the project.

Showing results 41-60

Lead 3d Artist information

See salary details

$10

$25

$72

How much do lead 3d artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead 3d artist in the United States is $25.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Lead 3D Artist do?

A Lead 3D Artist is responsible for overseeing the creation of 3D assets for video games, films, or other digital media. They guide a team of artists, ensuring consistency in style, quality, and technical standards while collaborating with designers and developers. Their role involves mentoring team members, managing workflows, and making key artistic decisions. Strong leadership, artistic skills, and knowledge of industry-standard software are essential for success in this role.

What are the typical leadership responsibilities of a Lead 3D Artist on a project?

As a Lead 3D Artist, you will oversee the visual direction of a team, managing tasks such as providing creative feedback, setting quality standards, and ensuring alignment with overall project goals. You’ll regularly coordinate with other departments, such as game designers, animators, and technical artists, to integrate 3D assets seamlessly into the final product. Additionally, you'll mentor junior artists, help allocate resources, and resolve workflow challenges. The role often demands balancing hands-on art creation with team leadership to deliver high-quality work on schedule.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Lead 3D Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead 3D Artist, you need advanced expertise in 3D modeling, texturing, shading, and animation, often supported by a degree in fine arts, animation, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, and Adobe Creative Suite is crucial, and certifications in these tools can be advantageous. Leadership, effective communication, and collaborative problem-solving are essential soft skills for managing teams and guiding creative vision. These skills ensure cohesive visual output, successful project delivery, and a productive, motivated team environment.

How much do lead 3D artists get paid?

Lead 3D artists typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Seniority, proficiency with tools like Maya or Blender, and project scope can influence salary levels.

How much does a lead 3D artist make?

A lead 3D artist typically earns between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles often require proficiency in software like Maya or Blender and strong project management skills.
More about Lead 3d Artist jobs

What cities are hiring for Lead 3D Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Lead 3D Artist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Lead 3D Artist jobs?

The most popular types of Lead 3D Artist jobs are:

What are popular job titles related to Lead 3D Artist jobs?

For Lead 3D Artist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Lead 3D Artist job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $53,524 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY • On-site

thelab
Marketing • 51 - 200 employees

$20.75 - $28.50/hr

Other

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Position Summary:

The CGI Supervisor is responsible for the technical and artistic quality of all 3D computer-generated content across production. Acting as the bridge between creative leadership, production teams, and 3D artists, this role defines technical workflows, oversees asset creation, lighting, rendering, and animation, and ensures the efficient execution of projects from concept through final delivery.

Working within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled production ecosystem, the CGI Supervisor leads multidisciplinary CGI teams while helping integrate emerging technologies that improve production efficiency, scalability, and quality. This role ensures all deliverables align with the client's creative vision, brand standards, and technical specifications.

Key Responsibilities: Pipeline & Workflow Leadership
  • Define, maintain, and continuously optimize the CGI production pipeline to support efficient, scalable project delivery.
  • Collaborate with AI Developers, pipeline engineers, and production teams to implement workflow improvements and automation within HOME.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline rendering, asset management, and production processes through emerging technologies.
  • Ensure pipeline stability, consistency, and adherence to production standards across all CGI projects.
Team Leadership & Mentorship
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of CGI artists, including modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, look development, FX, and rendering.
  • Assign work based on project priorities, artist expertise, and production schedules.
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing creative environment.
  • Support career development through coaching, feedback, and technical guidance.
Technical Direction & Problem Solving
  • Serve as the primary technical authority for complex CGI production challenges.
  • Troubleshoot issues involving modeling, lighting, rendering, simulations, shaders, and production workflows.
  • Work closely with technical teams to improve tools, optimize rendering performance, and reduce production bottlenecks.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to production capabilities.
Creative Direction & Quality Control
  • Oversee look development, lighting, materials, rendering, and overall visual quality across all CGI deliverables.
  • Conduct regular creative and technical reviews, providing constructive feedback to ensure consistency and excellence.
  • Maintain visual continuity across campaigns, assets, and production teams.
  • Ensure work meets client expectations, brand standards, and creative objectives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Creative Directors, Senior Art Directors, Production Managers, AI Developers, and Compositing Supervisors throughout the production lifecycle.
  • Establish technical standards for seamless handoffs between CGI, compositing, photography, motion, and post-production teams.
  • Define render outputs, AOVs, utility passes, and delivery specifications that support efficient downstream production.
  • Contribute to the evolution of HOME by identifying opportunities where AI-enabled workflows can enhance creative production without compromising artistic quality.
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Visual Effects, Digital Arts, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 8+ years of experience in CGI, VFX, or digital production, with demonstrated leadership experience.
  • Proven expertise managing end-to-end CGI production pipelines.
  • Strong understanding of modeling, lighting, rendering, shading, animation, compositing, and asset management.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
  • Ability to balance creative excellence with production schedules and technical requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience leading teams within commercial advertising, retail, e-commerce, or creative production environments.
  • Experience implementing production pipeline improvements or workflow automation.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted production tools and emerging generative AI technologies.
  • Experience working with cloud rendering and distributed production environments.
  • Knowledge of scripting or pipeline development (Python, MEL, MaxScript, or similar).
  • Experience collaborating with software developers and technical pipeline teams.
Technical Skills: 3D Software
  • 3ds Max
  • Houdini
Rendering Engines
  • V-Ray
  • Karma
Pipeline & Production
  • Asset management
  • Look development
  • Shader development
  • Render optimization
  • Pipeline architecture
  • Workflow automation
  • Version control
Emerging Technologies
  • AI-enabled production workflows
  • Cloud rendering
  • Production automation
  • Familiarity with HOME AI capabilities
Success in This Role:

A successful CGI Supervisor will:

  • Deliver technically exceptional and visually compelling CGI that meets the highest creative standards.
  • Lead and inspire multidisciplinary CGI teams while fostering collaboration across creative, production, and technology functions.
  • Build efficient, scalable production pipelines that improve quality, consistency, and speed.
  • Champion innovation by evaluating new tools and technologies that enhance production workflows.
  • Help shape the continued evolution of HOME by integrating AI-enabled capabilities into CGI production while maintaining creative integrity and technical excellence.
#J-18808-Ljbffr