Head of Cinematography, Lighting

Netflix Animation Studios; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

Job summary

Netflix Animation Studios is seeking a Head of Cinematography, Lighting to oversee the cinematic vision and lighting for our upcoming film. The role leads the Lighting department within NAS, shaping mood, atmosphere, and readability across shots while ensuring visual quality and continuity.

The candidate will collaborate with the Director, VFX Supervisor, Production Designer, and other department heads, guiding look development and workflows, mentoring artists, and aligning lighting with camera,

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Supervisor or Head of Lighting on animated feature films or similar high-end animation/VFX projects.
• Several years of leadership or supervisory experience in film, TV, or games; 10+ years in lighting/lookdev/comp craft preferred.
• A reel/portfolio demonstrating excellence in lighting, colour, mood, and cinematic storytelling.
• Strong understanding of lighting principles, colour theory, and cinematography.
• Proficiency with Maya, Houdini, Katana, Arnold, RenderMan, or similar; familiarity with Nuke.
• Solid understanding of the animation/VFX pipeline and collaborative production environments.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills with clear direction.

Responsibilities

• Define the film’s lighting style with the Director, VFX Supervisor, Production Designer, and Art Directors.
• Build a unified cinematic language integrating camera, lighting, and composition with Layout.
• Lead and mentor Lighting Supervisors, Leads, and Artists; provide creative and technical guidance.
• Review and approve lighting work to maintain continuity and quality across sequences.
• Collaborate with Modeling, Surfacing, Environments, FX, CFX, and Compositing for seamless asset integration.
• Oversee lighting rigs, templates, and workflows to ensure efficiency and consistency.
• Work with CG/Technical Supervisors and R&D on pipeline developments and tool needs.
• Troubleshoot escalated lighting issues with TDs and engineering partners.
• Coordinate with Production Management to bid, schedule, and track lighting work within budget.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture and support training for Lighting artists.

Skills

Leadership experience

Lighting supervision

Cinematography

Mentoring

Collaboration

Communication

Problem-solving

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Katana

Arnold

RenderMan

Nuke

Job description

Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!

Job Summary:

We are seeking a Head of Cinematography, Lighting to support our upcoming film. This role is responsible for overseeing the cinematic vision and visual storytelling of the film through a lighting lens. The Head of Cinematography, Lighting works inside of NAS to lead the Lighting department and ensure the visual quality, consistency, and continuity of lighting across the production, shaping mood, atmosphere, and readability in every shot.

The Head of Cinematography, Lighting will collaborate closely with the Director, VFX Supervisor, Production Designer, Art Directors, Head of Cinematography, Layout, and other department heads to define the film’s lighting style and integrate it with camera, design, and character performance. They will guide the Lighting team through look development and shot production, providing creative and technical feedback, while helping to design workflows and tools that support efficient, high-quality output.

What You’ll Do:

• Partner with the Director, VFX Supervisor, Production Designer, and Art Directors to define the film’s lighting style and ensure it aligns with the overall visual direction
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Cinematography, Layout to build a unified cinematic language that integrates camera, lighting, and composition
• Lead and mentor Lighting Supervisors, Leads, and Artists, setting expectations and providing creative and technical feedback in dailies and reviews
• Review and approve lighting work, maintaining continuity and quality standards across sequences and shots
• Partner with Modeling, Surfacing, Environments, FX, CFX, and Compositing to ensure seamless integration of assets and effects into final lit and composited images
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of lighting rigs, templates, and workflows that support efficiency and consistency across the show
• Collaborate with CG/Technical Supervisors, Production Technology, and R&D on pipeline developments, tool needs, and the technical feasibility of lighting concepts
• Troubleshoot and resolve escalated lighting-related technical issues with TDs and engineering partners
• Work closely with Production Management to bid, schedule, and track lighting work, ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget
• Encourage a collaborative atmosphere by promoting respect, integrity, inclusion, and trust, and support training and development initiatives for Lighting artists

What You’ll Need:

• Proven experience as a Supervisor or Head of Lighting on animated feature films or similar high‑end animation/VFX projects
• Several years of experience in leadership or supervisory roles in film, TV, or games, backed by 10+ years in lighting/lookdev/comp craft preferred
• A reel/portfolio demonstrating excellence in lighting, colour, mood, and cinematic storytelling
• Strong creative eye and understanding of lighting principles, colour theory, and cinematography
• Proficiency with industry-standard lighting and rendering tools (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Katana, Arnold, RenderMan, or similar), and familiarity with compositing tools (e.g., Nuke)
• Solid understanding of the animation/VFX pipeline and experience working in a collaborative production environment
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide clear creative and technical direction

This role is based out of Sydney, Australia. Hybrid Role (Minimum of 3 days a week in the office).

NAS benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, and family-forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off. See more detail about our benefits here .

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.