Grinding Gear Games is Hiring!

Community Junior

• Has a great work ethic.


• Has moderate experience in video editing either professionally or as a hobby.


• Has a basic understanding of social media.


• Has a knowledge of internet culture.


• Has decent written communication skills.


• Has a proven ability to learn and adapt.


• Works well under pressure.


• Has a good knowledge of Path of Exile.


• Has NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Customer Support

• Moderating in-game chat and our forums


• Assisting customers via email and private messages

• Have exceptional communication skills


• Be highly organised and hard working


• Have the ability to multitask and prioritise work when required


• Have excellent computer and technical skills


• Be seeking a long term position


• Have previous Customer Service experience


• Experience with online games


• Experience with our game, Path of Exile


• You must have your own transport. Please only apply if you currently live in Auckland.


• Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Web Developer

• Ongoing maintenance of the www.pathofexile.com site.


• Adding additional payment methods and other features.


• Further website-game integration.

• PHP MVC framework experience. Zend Framework highly preferred.


• Front-end JavaScript experience.


• Database design, preferably PostgreSQL but not essential.


• Experience with PHP ORMs, preferably Doctrine 2.


• Experience with Linux and command-line tools.


• Bonus: experience with SASS, API design, payment systems, RequireJS, nginx, memcached, JavaScript frameworks.

Senior C++ Engine Programmer

• Extremely strong knowledge of modern C++


• Eight years of programming experience


• Five years of game engine development/graphics/engine experience


• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent


• Experience in advanced rendering techniques


• Experience with profiling and optimisation


• Experience with modern graphics APIs


• Experience working on a shipped game


• Experience with cross-platform development

Grinding Gear Games is Hiring!

Web Developer

• Ongoing maintenance of the www.pathofexile.com site.


• Adding additional payment methods and other features.


• Further website-game integration.

• PHP MVC framework experience. Zend Framework highly preferred.


• Front-end JavaScript experience.


• Database design, preferably PostgreSQL but not essential.


• Experience with PHP ORMs, preferably Doctrine 2.


• Experience with Linux and command-line tools.


• Bonus: experience with SASS, API design, payment systems, RequireJS, nginx, memcached, JavaScript frameworks.

Senior Animator

• 5 years of animation experience.


• Exceptional body mechanic animation skills in animating humanoid, animal and abstract monster combat.


• Proven experience in a professional production pipeline.


• Solid knowledge of Maya.


• The ability to take and give constructive criticism.


• Independently self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills.


• Portfolio and/or animation reel are required.

Texture Artist

• 1 year of concept art work in games, or 5 years of work experience in a related field (advertising, video editing, animation)


• Superior eye for lighting, value, colour, details, and the ability to use them in creating realistic, gritty and visually appealing imagery.


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly.


• Excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team.


• Passion for creating 'dark and gritty', environments, items, characters and monsters.


• Deep understanding of Path of Exile.


• Deep knowledge of Substance Painter and Designer.


• Knowledge of Marvelous Designer and Maya is preferred.


• Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.

Environment Concept Artist

• 3 years of environment work in games, or 5 years of work experience in related fields (sculpting, miniatures).


• Experience with maya, zbrush and substance painter (designer is a bonus).


• Superior eye for texture, value, color and the ability to use them in creating gritty consistent environments.


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly.


• Excellent communications skills and able to work within a team.


• Deep understanding of Path of Exile.


• Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required.

C++ User Interface Programmer

• Strong knowledge of modern C++.


• Three years of game programming experience.


• Excellent communication skills.

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent.


• Experience working on a shipped game title.


• Experience with Path of Exile.

Our current opportunities:

• Art Director


• Level Designer


• 3D Art Generalists


• Environment Concept Artist


• Senior Materials Artist


• C++ Gameplay or User Interface Programmer


• Visual Effects Artist


• Senior Animators


• 3D Game Environment Artist


• Game Lighting Artist/Environment Designer

Art Director

• Provide artistic leadership, direct and lead your team to produce and maintain high quality and consistent aesthetic across all areas in the game and related material.


• Facilitate and lead art reviews, directing and providing positive, constructive feedback across your team.


• Lead the delivery of assets that fit artistic, production and technical performance goals.


• Manage external outsourcing studios and maintain a consistent aesthetic across all of the areas in the game and related material.

• 10 years experience in games development with 3 years as an Art Director


• Experience with high budget AAA game development


• Leadership experience


• Understanding of how to create awesome gaming experiences


• Working knowledge of game development tools and their limitations


• Excellent communications skills, with an ability to train other artists


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to proactively seek out solutions to unblock progress and make work easier for others


• Understanding of Path of Exile and its themes


• Traditional arts background and/or a BA in Fine Art or 3D/Game Art is a plus


• A strong portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating your artistic skills and showing your shipped projects


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Level Designer

• Create immersive and replayable gameplay that supports and enhances the core mechanics and aesthetic


• Ensure a high level of quality through close collaboration with the Creative Director, Art Directors, Game Designers, Environment Artists, Sound Designers and other disciplines


• Integrate the content produced by other disciplines for your designs into the game engine (new gameplay elements, AI, sound, etc)


• Quickly learn to master our internal tools, and assist in making them better


• Conduct gameplay evaluations with the team, providing feedback and suggestions to help fine-tune the game


• Locate and fix bugs in both your own and your colleagues' work

• 2+ years of game industry experience


• Game design sensibilities


• Experience using Maya or a high level of proficiency in a similar 3D modelling tool


• Proactive and self-reliant


• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills


• Ability to work within a team environment


• Your portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant skills required


• You must be willing to complete a level design test if requested to do so

3D Art Generalists

• Experience working in game development at a professional studio on shipped 3D animated titles


• Good general knowledge of Maya when it comes to modelling, texturing and basic rigging.


• Good understanding of import/export processes using .obj/.fbx file formats.


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly.


• Proficiency in Maya and Photoshop.


• Familiarity with Substance and PBR materials is a plus.


• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to evaluate time requirements


• Proactive and self-reliant


• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills


• Ability to work within a team environment


• A strong portfolio demonstrating relevant artistic skills required


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

• An avid gamer with a deep understanding of our game, Path of Exile.


• Experience leading and/or mentoring


• Ability to light and render 3D objects


• A traditional art background and/or a BA/Diploma in Fine Art or 3D/Game Art


• TD skills

Environment Concept Artist

• 2 years of environment concept work in games, or 5 years of relevant studies or work in visual/technical fields like advertising, architectural visualisation ETC.


• Superior eye for lighting, value, colour, details, and the ability to use them in creating realistic, gritty and visually appealing imagery.


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly. Excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team.


• Passion for creating 'dark and gritty' environments.


• Deep understanding of the game we produce (Path of Exile)


• Traditional arts background and/or a BA in Fine Art or 3D/Game Art is a plus


• A strong portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating your artistic skills and showing your shipped projects


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Senior Materials Artist

• Create high-quality work using a variety of software programs


• Maintain a consistent aesthetic across your work in the game and related mediums such as trailers and web


• Collaborate across disciplines sharing ideas and articulating visions.


• Show initiative, push ideas and innovate within your duties


• Be aware of project/task schedules and be capable of delivering work to deadlines


• Take direction from the Art Director, Creative Director and engage with Producers


• Attend regular team meetings, providing updated status and progress of your deliverables

• Solid background as a 3D Art Generalist or Environment Artist in professional AAA video games or cinematics, animation or VFX studios


• Experience as a Materials Artist


• Solid grasp of colour and other physical material properties as they relate to games


• Proficient at creating both stylized and PBR materials using Substance Designer, Substance Painter and Photoshop


• Expert knowledge in node-based material editors, tiling layered materials, shader networks and procedural texturing


• You are inspired by growth and excellence and thrive on sharing your knowledge with your teammates while continually honing your craft


• Iterating, communicating and creating together is what drives your passion for art and games


• Knowledgeable in the key professional tools, techniques and asset creation pipelines: Maya, Zbrush, game engine (e.g. UE/Unity/proprietary), Marvelous Designer, modeling, baking, texturing, UV creation, unwrapping


• Proactive and self-reliant with good problem-solving skills


• Excellent communications skills with the ability to in a team environment


• Solid portfolio showcasing your Environment assets as well as your ability to create and apply high-quality materials to assets


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

C++ Gameplay or User Interface Programmer

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent


• Strong knowledge of modern C++


• Excellent communication skills


• At least six months of commercial game programming experience


• Must be able to pass our technical C++ programming test (approximately one hour long)

• Experience with our game, Path of Exile

Visual Effects Artist

• Three years of experience creating game art


• Experience creating real-time game effects in a wide range of software


• Superior eye for lighting, value, colour, details, and the ability to use them in creating efficient and impactful visual effects


• Self-motivation, excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team


• Positive attitude and able to receive and provide objective feedback


• Passion for creating 'dark and gritty' spells and microtransactions


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Senior Animator

• 7 years of animation and animation production experience


• Solid body mechanics and experience animating general combat, melee weapons and magic for both human, animals, and abstract creatures


• Proven experience in a professional production pipeline and the ability to create high-quality animations


• Solid knowledge of Maya


• The ability to take constructive criticism and maintain a professional attitude


• Independently self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills


• Team lead experience is a plus


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

3D Game Environment Artist

• 3 year of environment work in games, or 5 years of work experience in a related fields(sculpting, miniatures)


• Experience with maya, Z brush and substance painter(designer is a bonus)


• Superior eye for texture, value, color and the ability to use them in creating gritty consistent environments


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly


• Excellent communications skills, and able to work within a team


• Deep understanding of the game we produce(Path of Exile)


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Game Lighting Artist and Environment Design

• Experience with level or room creation in games


• Understanding how to create efficient and impactful lighting that enhances narratives


• Working knowledge of Maya and real-time game authoring environments like the Path of Exile hideout creation tool


• Excellent communications skills, with an ability to train other artists in the creation and lighting of locations and levels


• Ability to create video tutorials related to the level design process


• Some proficiency in graphic editing tools like Photoshop


• Self-motivation and self-reliance; ability to research and learn new tools quickly


• Deep understanding of the game we produce (Path of Exile)


• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so

Who/How to apply: