3D Modeling/Design, Freelance

Bluecadet is an Emmy-winning, experience design agency partnering with mission-driven institutions to create transformative environments, digital experiences, and storytelling platforms. We blend spatial design, technology, and narrative to bring ambitious ideas to life for museums, cultural institutions, nonprofits, and forward-thinking brands. Our partners include MoMA, NASA, The Smithsonian, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

We are seeking Freelance 3D Modelers/Designers to support a range of immersive and interactive projects. Multiple positions are available, with a focus on creating high-fidelity assets for real-time applications. You’ll collaborate closely with our experiential and development teams to translate real-world objects, environments, and characters into optimized 3D models for use in AR and real-time engines like Unity.

This role is a great fit for detail-oriented artists who are passionate about visual fidelity, material realism, and efficient modeling workflows for interactive platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Recreate real-world objects and environments as accurate, high-quality 3D models
• Optimize models for performance in real-time engines (Unity or Unreal)
• Collaborate with developers, designers, and technologists to ensure seamless integration and interactivity
• Apply proper topology, UV mapping, and baking for efficient rendering
• Work from references including photos, scans, or physical measurements
• Deliver models ready for animation, rigging, or game engine import depending on project needs
  

Required Expertise (must have one of the following)

• Advanced material and texturing skills, with a focus on realism for metals, glass, reflective and complex surfaces
• Humanoid character modeling and rigging for real-time AR applications
  

Qualifications

• 3 years of professional experience in 3D modeling and asset development
• Proficiency in industry-standard tools (e.g., Blender, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, or equivalent)
• Experience creating assets for Unity, Unreal Engine, or similar real-time platforms
• Strong understanding of model optimization, LODs, and efficient polycount management
• Familiarity with PBR workflows and shader/material systems
• Excellent communication, version control, and file organization practices
  

Nice to Have

• Experience with AR-focused asset development (e.g., WebAR, ARKit, or ARCore)
• Familiarity with real-time lighting, shading, and rendering pipelines
• Background in environmental modeling or prop creation for experiential installations
• Knowledge of animation and rigging best practices