--- title: 'Senior Modeler at Highdive' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-modeler-highdive-toronto-8evqzs0asb0z' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-15' --- # Senior Modeler at Highdive - **Company:** Highdive - **Location:** Toronto, Canada - **Posted:** 2026-04-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/highdive/jobs/5097897007 ## Job description Senior Modeler Join us on our journey and help us create our next unannounced linear adventure game which is set in historical China and features a realistic visual style and authentic traditional combat gameplay. The project is making use of Unreal Engine 5 and is co-developed in collaboration between Montreal/Toronto and our main studio in China. We are looking for a Senior Modeler to support our production teams. The candidate must have solid experience of Level Art and modeling. Key Responsibilities: - Work with the Art Lead and other stakeholders to understand asset requirements, stylistic direction, and reference quality. - Collaborate closely with Level Artists by supplying modular kits, props, and hero assets that support level design needs. - Communicate effectively with Tech Art (Hangzhou) to ensure assets comply with pipeline standards and engine constraints. - Contribute to the development and documentation of asset creation workflows and modeling best practices. - Assist in troubleshooting pipeline issues related to materials, shaders, asset integration, or tools. - Experience of creating organic assets (rocks, wood Branches, Buddha Status etc) is a plus Qualifications: - 5+ Years Experience on Video Game Asset production - Excellent 3D modelling and texturing skills - Highly proficient with 3D Studio Max and / or Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop. - Understanding of PBR (physically based rendering) techniques - Ability to work in a team and to communicate - Relevant development experience with Unreal is a plus - Experience of reviewing outsourcing work is a plus - Strong interest in emerging AI technologies and a willingness to explore how they can streamline art production, improve iteration speed, or expand creative possibilities. Why could we be the perfect place for you: We offer the unique experience of being part of the foundation of a new international game team right in the heart of Montreal, which benefits from the rich diversity of its members and the cultural exchange with our partners in Hangzhou. We also offer: - Insurance coverage and telemedicine from day one, - Transportation and meal allowance, - Referral bonus, - RRSP with employer contribution. Join us to work on an ambitious project, in a unique ‘Start-Up Atmosphere’ and with a team of passionate and energetic game developers! Justification des exigences linguistiques NetEase s'engage à favoriser un environnement de travail francophone pour ses employés au Québec. Tous les efforts ont été faits pour éviter d'exiger une langue autre que le français pour ce poste. Cependant, la maîtrise de l'anglais est essentielle pour ce poste, car l'employé devra communiquer régulièrement avec des collègues et des parties prenantes situés à l'extérieur du Québec, où l'anglais est la principale langue de communication entre les bureaux. Language Requirement Justification NetEase is committed to supporting a French-speaking workenvironment for its employees in Quebec. Every effort has been made to avoidrequiring a language other than French for this position. However, proficiency in English is essential for thisrole because the employee will be required to communicate regularly with colleagues and stakeholders located outside Quebec, where English is theprimary language of communication between offices. ## About Highdive ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Highdive is a NetEase Games ThunderFire development studio from Montreal that creates story-driven, emotional video games. - **Entity Type**: Private (Part of NetEase Games ThunderFire Group) - **Headquarters**: Montreal, Quebec, Canada (with a Toronto office) - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed (formed as part of NetEase Games Montréal) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Video Game Development (Computer Games) - **Target customers**: B2C – consumers and players of action-adventure and story-driven games on console/PC - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Bound by no borders, we create games that let us dive into pure emotions, together." Their values include cultivating harmony, embracing the unknown, venturing into wonder, and thriving together. ## Products & Services - **Blood Message**: An epic, cinematic story-driven adventure combining stealth and survival mechanics, set in the late Tang Dynasty. Announced June 2025. Currently in development. - **CARE**: A game currently in development (details not yet revealed). - **FragPunk (contributor)**: Highdive contributed to the development of FragPunk, a high-octane 5v5 hero shooter released by Thunderfire colleagues in March 2025. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private studio, part of NetEase Games) - **Key Metric – Total Funding**: Not applicable – Highdive is a first-party development studio within NetEase Games, not a venture-funded startup. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: NetEase Games (parent company), Thunderfire Group (internal label) - **Growth Signals**: - Rebranded and unveiled as "Highdive" in December 2024, celebrating its 5th anniversary. - Announced its first original IP, *Blood Message*, in June 2025. - Headcount has grown 18.6% year-over-year to approximately 99 employees. - Active hiring with 10+ open positions across Montreal and Toronto. ## Competitive Advantages - **Backed by NetEase**: As a NetEase Games ThunderFire studio, Highdive has access to significant resources, funding, and publishing infrastructure, allowing it to focus on high-quality, ambitious game development without the financial instability of an independent studio. - **Creative Autonomy**: The studio emphasizes a "bound by no borders" philosophy, encouraging experimentation and creative expression, which is attractive for developers seeking creative ownership. - **Strong Talent Pool**: The team is heavily composed of senior talent (30% senior, 5% director-level), with many recruits coming from top studios like Ubisoft, WB Games, and Eidos-Montréal, indicating a high-caliber, experienced workforce. ## Strategic Focus - **Original IP Development**: The studio is focused on building its own original game IP, starting with *Blood Message*. This is a major shift from being an unannounced support studio to a brand with its own identity. - **Expansion & Growth**: Highdive is actively growing its team (18.6% YoY headcount growth) and has opened a second office in Toronto, indicating a scaling strategy to support multiple projects. - **Emotional & Cinematic Experiences**: The studio is doubling down on "story-driven" and "cinematic" games that evoke emotion, positioning itself in the premium, narrative-focused segment of the market. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & Values**: The studio promotes a culture of "harmony," "trust," and "mutual respect," with a strong emphasis on experimentation and "embracing the unknown." They explicitly value creative expression and spreading joy. - **Work Environment**: Based in Montreal (with a Toronto office), a major hub for the video game industry. The company has a flat-ish structure with a high ratio of senior to junior staff, suggesting a mentorship-rich environment. - **Stability & Resources**: Being part of NetEase Games provides financial stability, benefits, and the ability to work on high-budget, polished titles without the "crunch" culture often associated with independent studios. - **Perks & Activities**: The studio holds team celebrations (e.g., Lunar New Year events, studio reveal party at Cirque Eloi), indicating a strong emphasis on team bonding and a positive social culture. - **Recruitment Process**: A 5-step process: Application Review → Recruiter Call → Interviews with the Team → Final Selection → Dive In. The process is transparent and focused on finding the right cultural and technical fit. ## Sources 1. [highdivegames.com](https://highdivegames.com/en) 2. [highdivegames.com - About](https://highdivegames.com/en/about) 3. [highdivegames.com - Careers](https://highdivegames.com/en/careers) 4. [LinkedIn - Highdive](https://ca.linkedin.com/company/highdivegames) 5. [Greenhouse - Highdive Jobs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/highdive) ## Other roles at Highdive - [Chef d'équipe - Artiste de niveaux / Lead Level Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/chef-d-equipe-artiste-de-niveaux-lead-level-artist-highdive-montreal-rhtq999kr4tp) — Montréal, Canada - [Analyste senior des données de jeu / Senior Game Data Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/analyste-senior-des-donnees-de-jeu-senior-game-data-analyst-highdive-montreal-3sd3k52t393j) — Montréal, Canada - [Animateur de gameplay senior / Senior Gameplay Animator](https://feeny.ai/job/animateur-de-gameplay-senior-senior-gameplay-animator-highdive-montreal-0fcdgyr28pam) — Montréal, Canada - [Concepteur de niveaux senior / Senior Level Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/concepteur-de-niveaux-senior-senior-level-designer-highdive-montreal-heggnqzynr8x) — Montréal, Canada - [Artiste principal en VFX / Principal VFX Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/artiste-principal-en-vfx-principal-vfx-artist-highdive-montreal-hq8psscj223j) — Montréal, Canada - [Artiste de niveau senior / Senior Level Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/artiste-de-niveau-senior-senior-level-artist-highdive-toronto-s78sb40dw9eb) — Toronto, Canada - [Generalist Content Tech Director - Directeur Technique Généraliste de Contenu](https://feeny.ai/job/generalist-content-tech-director-directeur-technique-generaliste-de-contenu-qna6maby6c67) — Toronto, Canada - [Chef d'équipe - Artiste de niveau / Lead Level Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/chef-d-equipe-artiste-de-niveau-lead-level-artist-highdive-toronto-s4ype1hdjs9c) — Toronto, Canada