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Visual Development Artist Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Nintendo

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Perform research as necessary to support visual development. * Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists. * Create storyboards, background illustrations, and ...

Creative Action

Teaching Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$20/hr

Professional Development & Community * Growth: Attend mandatory Friday morning trainings (10 AM - 1 ... Experience in visual arts, theater, music, dance, or film (Preferred). * Educational Experience:

Creative Action

Teaching Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$20/hr

Professional Development & Community * Growth: Attend mandatory Friday morning trainings (10 AM - 1 ... Experience in visual arts, theater, music, dance, or film (Preferred). * Educational Experience:

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Visual Development Artist information

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$36.2K

$106.9K

$151.2K

How much do visual development artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for visual development artist in Austin, TX is $106,880.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,700.00 and $150,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical workday look like for a Visual Development Artist?

As a Visual Development Artist, your day often begins by reviewing project briefs and collaborating with the art director or other team members to align on creative direction. You’ll spend a significant portion of your time sketching, painting, and revising environment designs, characters, or color scripts, either digitally or traditionally. Regular feedback sessions with the team are common, providing opportunities to iterate and improve your work. Throughout the day, you may also research visual references and ensure your designs are consistent with the project’s overall style and story. This mix of creative independent work and collaborative interaction is key to shaping the visual identity of the project.

What is a Visual Development Artist job?

A Visual Development Artist creates the overall look and feel of a project by designing characters, environments, props, and color schemes. They work closely with directors and art teams in animation, film, and gaming to establish a cohesive visual style. Their work helps guide the production team in bringing the story to life. This role requires strong artistic skills, creativity, and knowledge of digital painting and design tools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Visual Development Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Visual Development Artist, you need strong skills in drawing, color theory, composition, and storytelling, often backed by a degree in art or a related field. Proficiency with digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and knowledge of 3D software like Blender or Maya is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills, helping you translate concepts into compelling visuals and collaborate with other team members. These abilities enable you to contribute high-quality visual assets that guide the look and feel of animation, film, or game projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Austin, TX? The most popular types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Austin, TX are:
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What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Visual Development Artist jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Visual Development Artist job openings:
Visual Development Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Visual Development Artist job openings in Austin, TX as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $106,880 per year, or $51.4 per hour.
Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo

Austin, TX

$125K - $144K/yr

Other

Medical, PTO

Posted yesterday

Nintendo rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

183rd of 245 rated software companies

Job description

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX 

Position includes: 

  • Paid weekly
  • Health care benefits available
  • Paid time-off provided
  • Paid holidays observed
  • Access to Nintendo discounts

RETRO STUDIOS: 

Founded in 1998, Retro Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd., and a powerhouse in game development. Working hand-in-hand with Nintendo, we craft award-winning titles for the company's cutting-edge platforms, blending innovation, artistry, and gameplay excellence. 

Our home base is Austin, Texas, a vibrant city known for its creative energy, live music, stunning natural scenery, and forward-thinking culture. With year-round sunshine and endless options for outdoor adventures, Austin offers the perfect backdrop for world-class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:    

  • Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of our games by working to establish consistent visuals for characters, environments, props, and effects, with an emphasis on boss characters.
  • Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with design specifications to communicate gameplay properties, interactions and sequencing of boss characters.
  • Adopt a broad range of styles from realistic to highly stylized based on goals and direction for a given project to produce concept art with an appropriate sense of color, drama, shape language, personality, and design.
  • Take ownership of concept work for various game features while actively collaborating with other disciplines such as Design, Art, and Engineering to achieve high-quality, innovative concept art.
  • Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches, breakdowns, reference sheets, paintings, and other digital imagery.
  • Provide visual contextualization support for game design efforts at all stages.
  • Perform research as necessary to support visual development.
  • Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists.
  • Create storyboards, background illustrations, and promotional artwork.
  • Provide and receive feedback professionally. 

*This job description outlines primary duties and requirements and is not intended to identify all tasks that may be performed; individuals occupying the position may be required to perform other duties.  The company may modify job duties from time to time, either in practice or in writing. 

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS:   

  • Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one complete product cycle shipping AAA title.
  • Must present online portfolio with high-quality, varied examples of character and environment concept art.
  • Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of composition, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment and architecture.
  • Examples of modern rendering process using 3D art and modeling tools (Maya, Blender).
  • Mastery of fundamental artistic principles.
  • Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.
  • Good communicator, self-motivated, driven to grow professionally.
  • Undergraduate degree in art-related subject, completion of an intensive art training program, or equivalent professional experience. 

Retro Studios is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other. 

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