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Surfacing Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

You are able to be the paintbrush of the artist, the chisel of the sculptor - intuiting and ... Surfacing Designer Responsibilities: * Support the development of category-defining products ...

3D Artist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

Texturing / Surfacing * Rigging * Animation * Editing Requirements: * 3-5 years in 3D design and ... The 3D Artist position is a full-time role, with competitive salary, full employee medical benefits ...

You are able to be the paintbrush of the artist, the chisel of the sculptor - intuiting and ... Surfacing Designer Responsibilities: * Support the development of category-defining products ...

TECHNICAL ARTIST

Atlanta, GA

$120K - $144K/yr

The ideal Technical Artist will be a technical problem-solver and have a passion for technical ... Experience with organic and hard surface modeling with clean, optimized topology and UVs.

TECHNICAL ARTIST

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$120K - $144K/yr

The ideal Technical Artist will be a technical problem-solver and have a passion for technical ... Experience with organic and hard surface modeling with clean, optimized topology and UVs.

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 ...

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 ...

Senior 3D Artist, Technical

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$144K - $173K/yr

As a Senior Technical Animator, you will be working with a team of talented engineers, artists, and ... Engage with external creators to advise on best practices and surface opportunities to further ...

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 ...

Senior Concept Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

ART What We Do Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment ... hard surface, vehicles, organic environments, and stylized design * Proficiency in Photoshop ...

Technical Artist, Environment

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Own terrain blending materials, procedural surface layering, weathering systems, and landscape ... Interface with internal artist teams and codevelopers to maintain milestone cadences * Perform all ...

Take advantage of an artistic outlet as your work creatively to complete repairs, usually in an hour or less. A Day in the Life of a Surface Experts Technician: WE OFFER: * Base Salary + Bonus ...

Scenic Charge Artist (Temporary) TheatreSquared is Northwest Arkansas's professional, non-profit ... Execute all scenic surface treatments and finishes for scenery and, as requested, props. * Mix ...

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Surfacing Artist information

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$13

$51

$190

How much do surfacing artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for surfacing artist in the United States is $51.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.91 and $38.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.
More about Surfacing Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Surfacing Artist jobs? Cities with the most Surfacing Artist job openings:
What states have the most Surfacing Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Surfacing Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Surfacing 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 $106,858 per year, or $51.4 per hour.
Surfacing Designer

Surfacing Designer

Meta

Burlingame, CA

$118K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago


Meta rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

140th of 215 rated software companies


Job description

You want work within a small tight-knit team of Surfacing Designers so you can learn as much as possible about tangent/curvature/acceleration continuity, what makes NURBS be NURBS, challenge yourself to build complex forms cleanly and beautifully yet also manage the innumerable changes that will be asked for, and have the opportunity to develop production-ready geometry that captures the desires of Industrial Designers, Mechanical Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers and will live in millions of homes.You have a in-depth sense of manufacturing requirements, but also a developed sense of design/aesthetics/flow in art, or photography, or automobiles, or boats, airplanes, etc. You love to build stuff, be it tinkering projects, or house renovations, or bicycles, or musical instruments, or cars, etc. You can “see” shapes in your head: imagine them, spin them, and express those shapes in CAD or words or clay, etc. You are able to be the paintbrush of the artist, the chisel of the sculptor - intuiting and expressing what they want. You are very capable of managing your time, energy, and kindness within ever-changing and often challenging work schedules.
Surfacing Designer Responsibilities:
  • Support the development of category-defining products, helping Meta change the world through design
  • Help define and refine the visual and physical language of our brand through the design of our hardware
  • Create and update 3D CAD surfaces and solid bodies to assist the product development process and for cross-discipline use
  • Create Class-A production-ready 3D CAD surfaces and bodies across multiple projects and product categories
  • Utilize your good aesthetic and mechanical sensibilities to conceive elegant and effective solutions to complex geometric, ergonomic and mechanical challenges
  • Work collaboratively with multiple cross-functional teams on complex technical programs in a fast-paced environment

Minimum Qualifications:
  • A Bachelor's degree or relevant experience in Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
  • 5+ years of professional experience as a 3D Modeler or CAD Surfacing Specialist, developing complex parts for industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, wearable tech, sports equipment, etc
  • Mid-level knowledge of a high-end parametric CAD surfacing software such as PTC Creo or Siemens NX, including “master/skeleton” modeling for highly integrated assemblies
  • Experience designing parts with consideration for plastic injection molding, CNC machining, and metal forming/casting/extrusion/stamping best practices
  • Experience managing complex part interactions and assemblies
  • Good understanding of product architecture and internal component layout
  • Experience utilizing rapid prototyping techniques such as 3D printing and CNC machining to help validate part design

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
  • Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)
  • Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$118,000/year to $170,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

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