Open-Rank Professor of Interactive Media and Games - Game Art and Animation

The Interactive Media & Games Division within USC's School of Cinematic Arts seeks a candidate for a tenure/tenure track or non‑tenure track faculty position in Interactive Media and Games with a specialty in art direction and creation for video games and real‑time graphics engines. Initial rank and track will be commensurate with qualifications and accomplishments. The position will teach game art courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, covering intermediate game animation, game concept art, skybox painting, and environmental modeling. Advanced courses may include motion capture, procedural art, and interface design, following faculty research interests. We seek experienced lead artists or animators with a record of teaching or mentoring at the university level, whose expertise is in real‑time digital art and who can mentor students to produce high‑quality assets and best practices for the rapidly growing field of real‑time animation. The ideal candidate holds a graduate degree in Animation, Computer Science, or Game Development, and has background in art creation for the games industry. Minimum Education Graduate Degree in Fine Art, Game Development, Software Engineering, Production Design or a related field. Minimum Experience Multiple shipped titles. Experience teaching or mentoring students in game development, art, or a related field. Experienced with interdisciplinary collaborations, working with designers, developers, artists, producers, etc. Good communication skills, project planning, and professional rigor and ethics. Demonstrated ability to work within diverse and inclusive communities of discourse and practice. Proficiency with industry‑standard real‑time art and content creation tools such as Blender, Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, and Substance 3D (Painter/Designer) or equivalent pipelines. Demonstrated ability to work with new and emerging technologies and methodologies. Preferred Education Terminal Degree in Fine Art, Game Development, Software Engineering, Production Design, or a related field. Preferred Experience 3 or more years teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in game development, real‑time animation, or fine art. Familiarity with emerging AI‑assisted art and content creation workflows, including hands‑on experience with at least one or two widely used tools (e.g., Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Runway, or comparable platforms) and their application within game art pipelines. Salary Ranges Non‑tenure Track Assistant Professor: $83k – $90k Associate Professor: $85k – $95k Full Professor: $90k – $110k Tenure / Tenure Track Assistant Professor: $90k – $100k Associate Professor: $110k – $135k Full Professor: $120k – $175k This is a 9‑month full‑time position. All candidates should prepare a curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching and research experience, and a portfolio of game‑art work. #J-18808-Ljbffr University of Southern California