Iron Galaxy Studios

Game creation is the ultimate team sport and we bring a "pick up a shovel and dig" mentality where no job is too small.

Chicago, IL

Hybrid

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Design + UX//

Managing Art Director (Chicago, IL)

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At Iron Galaxy Studios, our teams support a healthy work-life balance, promote continuous improvement, and champion a diverse people-focused culture. We encourage professionals from every heritage, lifestyle, or background to apply.

This is a full-time hybrid position in Chicago (IL), Nashville (TN), or Orlando (FL) with relocation options for out-of-state applicants.

Iron Galaxy Studios is looking for a passionate and motivated Managing Art Director to join our team as an artistic visionary and ensure our visual elements are of the highest quality for our projects and the growth of the art team members.

We are a well-established independent game developer who has partnered with the titans of our industry to ship more high-caliber games than any other independent developer. We’re known for our excellent work on Killer Instinct, as well as helping to bring Skyrim and Diablo III to the Nintendo Switch.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Work with the Department Lead to track upcoming goals for our art department as it evolves and grows
Support and represent artists as their Career Guide to ensure their development and growth.
Connect with artist on the team and be the conduit and spark for their future growth and aspirations.
Develop an internal learning and growth system for the Art Department.
Communicate and collaborate with other development disciplines to create cohesive departmental practices across the studio.
Collaborate with creative Leads to craft and communicate the artistic vision of the projects
Concept and pitch high-level game concepts
Generate excitement and direction through Art Bibles, documentation, concept art, or mood boards
Work with Production to schedule and track tasks that help our art team execute on our goals as efficiently as possible

DESIRED SKILLS

Be an EXCELLENT listener and a proficient planner.
Experience leading a creative team in crafting their individual skill sets.
Experience working in interactive media and/or game development, some AAA game experience preferred
Experience leading a creative team in crafting a distinct, cohesive visual style
Ability to provide creative leadership through focused and inspiring reviews.
Deep expertise and experience in at least one art field (e.g., character, environment, concept)
Significant experiences working with one or more industry-standard engines, such as UE4 or Unity
Superb knowledge in one or more industry-standard software applications, such as Photoshop, Maya, ZBrush, Substance
Values-driven and inclusive, committed to doing the right thing and being respectful to everyone on our team
Fearless about trying out new tools with a commitment to keeping up with the latest industry standards, best practices, and approaches to creative projects
Commitment to mentorship and exchanging knowledge, advice, and best practices with your colleagues

BONUS SKILLS

Expert communication skills to interface with our team members and partners
Experience in educational growth and leadership training
Expert communication skills to interface with our many partners
Project management software expertise (Jira, Confluence, etc.)

ABOUT US: Iron Galaxy is one of the world’s largest independent video game developers with 60+ shipped titles. Our people combine their talents to create amazing ports, epic remasters, and new experiences from the ground up. We partner with the top companies in the gaming industry to co-develop and support AAA game creation at the highest level.

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Chelsea Blasko

Co-CEO

HIGHLIGHTING ALL VOICES

Building An Inclusive Culture On DEIA Foundations

Chelsea Blasko stands by Iron Galaxy’s value of “picking up a shovel” — the idea that every employee’s work and voice contribute to the company. This applies to its open culture of shifting roles and opportunities, as well as its inclusive policies. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Blasko recognizes the power of intentional acts in establishing a DEIA-focused foundation. In that spirit, Iron Galaxy offers diversity scholarships at two universities, has established DEI protocols for processes such as resume and content reviews and trains managers to be coaches for personalized development.

I feel honored that so many of our employees feel comfortable sharing this aspect of themselves with us as a company.

Rejess Marshall

DEIA Lead

ACCOUNTABLE DEIA

Developing Games That Better Represent The Players

Rejess Marshall is familiar with the DEIA problem in video games. “The industry has been scrutinized for lack of diverse hair options, leaving underrepresented groups struggling to create characters that look like their actual appearance,” she pointed out. An inclusive product is only possible with a diverse team, which is why Iron Galaxy’s ERGs are given a voice in the game development process, to ensure such components are integrated. New hires also go through touchpoints that reinforce the company’s position on inclusivity and belonging, including company-wide events and DEIA onboarding.

Research shows that diverse teams consistently outperform teams with less diversity.

Keenan Moralicz

Community Manager

DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

Cultivating Belonging Through Diverse Experiences

ERGs are a core aspect of Iron Galaxy’s DEIA policies, one that Keenan Moralicz appreciates as an active participant himself. He’s a member of both the Latinx and AAPI ERGs, and the events held by both organizations have enriched his sense of belonging. As a community manager, Moralicz’s also had the chance to interview fellow employees about their experiences — in and out of the gaming industry — for the company’s internal blog. What he found was a community of diverse perspectives he hasn’t found anywhere else.

As someone who’s mixed ethnicity-wise, I’ve had trouble sometimes connecting with certain cultures. Here, I am welcomed with open arms.

What are Iron Galaxy Studios Perks + Benefits

Iron Galaxy Studios Benefits Overview

At Iron Galaxy, we are committed to offering a comprehensive employee benefits program that helps our employees stay healthy, feel secure, and maintain a work/life balance. These benefits extend to your domestic partner and dependents.

To demonstrate our commitment to our employees, Iron Galaxy pays a much higher percentage of the health premium for our employees than the national average.

Culture

Volunteer in local community

Every employee receives one paid day off each year to volunteer with charitable organizations.

Partners with Nonprofits

Our teams donate to food drives in our local communities. We also work with educators and diversity organizations to grow our teams' knowledge base via training sessions and conferences.

Eat lunch together

Intracompany committees

Open door policy

Team owned deliverables

Group brainstorming sessions

Pair programming

Diversity

Dedicated Diversity/Inclusion Staff

Diversity Employee Resource Groups

Our DEIA lead facilitates employee resource group efforts across the company. Yearly each group is given a budget to invest in the programs that mean the most to them and give back to their community.

Hiring Practices that Promote Diversity

Initial interviews happen over the phone to reduce bias in our hiring process. When searching for talent we use web tools to hide candidates' names and profile pictures to grade on relevant skills.

Health Insurance & Wellness Benefits

Disability Insurance

Including short-term disability, long-term disability, accident insurance, and critical illness coverage.

Dental Benefits

The dental insurance premium is 100% covered by Iron Galaxy for employees and dependents.

Vision Benefits

The vision insurance premium is 100% covered by Iron Galaxy for employees and dependents.

Health Insurance Benefits

We offer two plans: one features a high-deductible with employer contributions to an HSA account and the other includes a robust PPO plan.

Life Insurance

We offer all full-time employees basic life insurance of 50,000 paid for by the company and we also offer voluntary life insurance up to a guaranteed issue amount of 100,000.

Pet Insurance

Iron Galaxy covers your furry friends with pet insurance and member perks.

Mental Health Benefits

Iron Galaxy provides mental health benefits through our employee assistance plan, virtual counseling, mental health resources, and quarterly mental health PTO days.

Retirement & Stock Options Benefits

401(K)

401(K) Matching

The plan matches 100% employee deferrals up to 4% and then 50% matching of contributions from 4% to 6%.

Company Equity

Iron Galaxy offers a phantom stock program.

Performance Bonus

Our team members receive bonuses based on individual performance and company performance around the holidays each year in December.

Match charitable contributions

Every quarter we choose an organization to raise funds for and Iron Galaxy matches our employee's donations to the selected org.

Child Care & Parental Leave Benefits

Generous Parental Leave

We offer 13 weeks of paid leave at 100% for the birthing parent (8 weeks for recovery and 5 weeks of bonding). We also offer five weeks of paid bonding leave at 100% for the non-birthing parent.

Flexible Work Schedule

We ask our teams to give their best eight hours a day. We have flexible start times and hybrid in-office days.

Family Medical Leave

Company sponsored family events

Including holiday parties, family picnics, and more.

Vacation & Time Off Benefits

Generous PTO

Generally, full-time employees receive at least 36 days of paid time off each year. 12-20 days accrued in a calendar year, 14 holidays, 5 sick days, 4 mental health days, and 1 volunteer day.

Paid Volunteer Time

Sabbatical

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Days

Perks & Discounts

Casual Dress

Commuter Benefits

We offer pre-tax transit and parking commuter benefits.

Company Outings

Game Room

Stocked Kitchen

Happy Hours