Art Director / Concept Artist (Contract) (Unreal Engine 5 / Sports)

Refactor Games is a AAA sports video game studio . We are developing the next generation of professional football (soccer) video games using Unreal Engine 5 . We’re looking for a contract Art Director / Concept Artist to define the visual identity of our titles. The look is grounded in realism—authentic players, stadiums, and presentation—but with a subtle, deliberate layer of video game stylization to push visual clarity and emotional tone.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can define and own the style guide , key art , mood boards , and visual language for everything from players and kits to UI, stadiums, lighting, and presentation.

You'll Work On:

• Creating concept art, style frames, and visual direction docs for a modern, cinematic soccer experience
• Defining the balance between realism and stylization (e.g., lighting, color grading, facial structure, UI shape language)
• Establishing visual consistency across characters, environments, menus, and in-game cameras
• Collaborating with Character, Environment, UI, and Marketing teams to ensure cohesive output
• Delivering fast, high-quality concept sketches, color keys, and reference boards
• Iterating with stakeholders to lock tone, mood, and signature visual moments (goals, replays, set pieces)

Requirements:

• 5+ years experience in concept art, visual development, or art direction (games, film, or commercial)
• Strong portfolio showing both realistic and stylized concept work
• Experience building or owning visual styles for real-time 3D experiences
• Excellent eye for composition, lighting, color, and material separation
• Strong communicator who can articulate visual tone and translate it to asset teams

Bonus Points:

• Deep love of football culture and visual storytelling in sports media
• Experience working on sports, racing, or broadcast-style games
• Strong understanding of real-world presentation: stadium lighting, broadcast cameras, sponsor boards, crowd density

This is a contract position with flexibility in location and hours. We want someone with bold taste, sharp instincts, and the ability to define a look that stands apart from EA FC and PES—recognizably soccer, unmistakably us .