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Surfacing Artist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$136.80K - $163.80K/yr

Asset Artist AGBO is seeking a talented Asset Artist to join our Visual Effects (VFX) team. The ... Proficiency in concepting, set design, layout, modeling, surfacing, basic rigging, and optimizing ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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Surfacing Artist information

See California salary details

$13

$50

$188

How much do surfacing artist jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for surfacing artist in California is $50.70, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.62 and $37.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Surfacing Artist, you need a solid understanding of texture painting, shading, and material definition, usually supported by a degree in art, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and rendering engines like Arnold or RenderMan is typically required. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and collaboration skills help artists produce visually compelling surfaces that match the project's artistic vision. These skills ensure assets look realistic or stylistically appropriate, directly impacting the quality and believability of digital environments and characters.

What are some common challenges Surfacing Artists face when ensuring visual consistency across different assets?

Surfacing Artists often work on multiple assets that need to look cohesive within a project’s visual style, which can be challenging due to varying lighting conditions, asset types, and technical limitations. Achieving consistent textures and materials requires close collaboration with modelers, lighting artists, and art directors, as well as a strong understanding of the project’s shaders and rendering pipeline. Staying organized and maintaining clear documentation of texture maps and naming conventions helps streamline the process and minimize inconsistencies.

What is a Surfacing Artist?

A Surfacing Artist is a professional in the animation, visual effects, or video game industries responsible for creating the textures, materials, and finishes that define the look and feel of 3D models. They apply color, patterns, and surface qualities to characters, environments, and props, ensuring they appear realistic or stylized as required by the project. Surfacing Artists work closely with modelers, lighting artists, and art directors to achieve the desired visual outcome. Their work is crucial for making digital assets look believable and appealing on screen.

What is the difference between Surfacing Artist vs Texture Artist?

AspectSurfacing ArtistTexture Artist
CredentialsTypically requires a background in 3D modeling, texturing, and digital art, often with a focus on surfacing techniquesRequires skills in texturing, shading, and material creation, often with similar software knowledge
Work EnvironmentWorks primarily in 3D modeling and rendering pipelines within game or film studiosWorks in digital art and texturing departments, often collaborating closely with modeling and lighting teams
Industry UsageCommonly used in game development, film, and animation for creating detailed surface qualitiesUsed across similar industries for adding surface detail and realism to models

While both roles involve creating surface details for 3D assets, Surfacing Artists focus on defining the look and feel of surfaces, including materials and finishes, whereas Texture Artists primarily apply textures to models to add detail and realism. Both roles require similar skills and often overlap, but their specific focus areas differ within the pipeline.

What are popular job titles related to Surfacing Artist jobs in California? For Surfacing Artist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Surfacing Artist jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Surfacing Artist jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Surfacing Artist jobs? Cities in California with the most Surfacing Artist job openings:
Surfacing Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Surfacing Artist job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 61% Full Time, 38% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 77% Physical, 8% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,459 per year, or $50.7 per hour.
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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