CG ARTIST JOB DESCRIPTION

CG Artist work lives where product truth and visual storytelling converge. A finished render either sells the object or it doesn't - and that gap falls entirely on this seat. CG Artists own the full visual output chain: modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering assets for use across print, web, XR, and broadcast media. Within creative and production teams, this role answers directly to art directors and design leads who depend on photorealistic output to move campaigns and product launches forward.

As the CG Artist, you translate CAD data, concept art, and creative briefs into production-ready 3D assets and rendered imagery that serve marketing, industrial design, and interactive teams. You operate across multiple output formats and media channels, working within an agency or in-house studio environment where deadline pressure and visual fidelity are equally non-negotiable.

Career Impact: Mastery of hard-surface modeling and PBR texturing workflows positions you at the senior tier of a discipline where verified portfolio output - not tenure - determines market value.

Business Impact: Your rendered assets are the primary visual evidence that product launches, architectural proposals, and XR experiences reach their audiences with accuracy and impact.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to real-time engine pipelines and XR production opens advancement into Technical Artist and Lead CG Artist roles as interactive media demand accelerates.

• Execute high-quality product and environmental renderings for print, digital, and motion deliverables
• Clean and optimize complex CAD files for deployment across multiple media formats
• Develop and maintain texture and shader libraries that ensure visual consistency across asset families
• Rig and animate 3D models to meet real-time engine and promotional video specifications
• Collaborate with industrial designers, art directors, and marketing partners to advance creative from brief to final delivery
• Review lighting and camera setups against reference photography to match angle, shadow, and material finish
• Maintain documentation of illustration standards, animation libraries, and archived final assets
• Manage multiple concurrent asset requests within tight production schedules

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Animation, or equivalent work experience
• 2 or more years of hard-surface 3D modeling experience, with demonstrated proficiency in retopology and low-poly workflows
• Proven ability to reproduce accurate models from CAD drawings, concept art, and photographic reference
• Strong command of lighting, rendering, and physically based texturing workflows
• Experience producing assets optimized for both high-resolution print output and real-time or web XR environments
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills in a deadline-driven studio setting
• Portfolio of completed 3D work required for consideration

• Experience in a consumer products, architectural visualization, or interactive media environment
• Familiarity with real-time engine pipelines such as Unreal Engine or Unity
• Background in photogrammetry, motion design, or procedural geometry workflows
• Prior agency or in-house studio experience supporting cross-functional creative teams

• Asset approval rate on first or second review, reflecting modeling and texturing accuracy against brief
• Render turnaround time per asset relative to studio benchmarks, measured weekly
• Revision cycles per deliverable, tracking alignment between CG output and art director direction
• Portfolio asset utilization rate, measuring how often produced assets are deployed in final campaign materials
• Real-time engine readiness rate of delivered models, reflecting optimization against polygon and texture budgets
• Typical tools: 3D Modeling and Rendering (commonly Blender, Cinema 4D, Modo, or Maya); texturing (commonly Substance Painter); compositing (commonly Adobe Photoshop or After Effects)

• Base Salary Range: $60,000 to $95,000 annually depending on seniority and output medium
• Bonus: Project-based or annual discretionary bonus, typically 5 to 10 percent
• Equity: Uncommon at individual contributor level; possible at senior studios
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually plus standard US holidays
• Common Perks: Software licensing, portfolio development support, remote or hybrid studio flexibility

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Successful completion of a background check is required as a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

As a CG Artist for SharkNinja's in-house agency creative team, you'll be a bridge between the Creative and Industrial Design departments. The CG Artist owns the full spectrum of product visualization, from cleaning complex CAD files and building texture libraries to delivering print-ready renderings that support new product launches across all brand touchpoints.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute high-quality, print-ready product renderings, images, and environments.
• Clean complex CAD files and optimize for use in multiple media.
• Apply lighting, rendering, and shaders to improve the visual fidelity of 3D assets.
• Support creative teams in the development of new product launches.
• Render cutting-edge consumer products and model environments and texture libraries.
• Establish close relationships with designers, providing image creation support and ideation.
• Deliver high-quality CG files for all new and legacy products based on current brand thinking and product CAD and CMF.
• Meet tight deadlines consistently.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field required.
• 3+ years of related work experience, with internal or external agency experience preferred.
• Mastery of KeyShot.
• Working knowledge of 3D-related software such as Modo, V-Ray Next, Cinema 4D, Corona, Adobe After Effects, and Photoshop.
• Experience with small consumer appliances a plus.
• Ability to embrace change and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Portfolio required for consideration.

Embedded within a multidisciplinary project team, the CG Artist supports the development of 3D digital artwork for proposals spanning products, buildings, and vehicles. Working closely with production staff, the CG Artist advances visual storytelling from concept art through final presentation while maintaining documentation standards and adhering to product ID specifications.

Core Functions

• Supporting in the development of 3D digital artwork used in proposals for products, buildings and vehicles.
• Render visuals and animations from concept art to full digital artwork presentation.
• Contribute to consistent documentation of illustration standards, including working methods, animation libraries, and archiving final digital images.
• Support the team and take responsibility for the presentation of 3D digital artwork throughout the majority of company projects.
• Adhere to current product ID specs, paying close attention to colors, materials, and finishes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong portfolio of artwork from previous projects required.
• Experience using atmosphere and emotion to tell a story through imagery.
• Working knowledge of digital artwork production processes.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD.
• Knowledge of Unreal Engine.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information.
• Strong communication skills.

Reporting to the creative and marketing leadership, the CG Artist produces high-quality, optimized 3D assets and textures for web XR use, supporting both promotional and video production pipelines. Partnering with designers and marketing teams, the CG Artist ensures that engine-ready models, product renderings, and animated assets are delivered to completion with technical precision.

Primary Duties

• Produce high-quality and optimized 3D assets and textures for web XR use.
• Create engine-ready models and animate them for production needs.
• Render images for use in promotional and video production.
• Collaborate and communicate with designers and marketing partners to advance creative work to completion.
• Strip product renderings into existing images, matching angles and lighting.
• Reproduce models based on various levels of available information, including CAD drawings and concept art.
• Rig and animate assets, with game engine experience as a plus.

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong portfolio of 3D modeling experience showing retopology and low-poly model work required.
• 2+ years of experience in 3D hard surface modeling.
• 2+ years of proficiency in Blender, Autodesk Maya, Modo, C4D, or other 3D modeling software.
• 2+ years of lighting and rendering experience, including Substance.
• Experience with 3D motion design, Houdini, Unity, UE4, Photogrammetry, or Simplygon a plus.