Lighting Supervisor - Netflix Animation Studios at Netflix

Netflix; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision plans

Mental health support

Retirement programs

Family-forming benefits

Paid leave of absence programs

Paid time away programs

Job summary

Netflix Animation Studios in Sydney, Australia, is seeking a Lighting Supervisor to lead a team of lighting artists on an upcoming animated feature. You will mentor staff, maintain creative and technical standards, and partner with VFX, Cinematography, Art, and Production teams to shape lighting style and quality.

The role requires a strong reel, leadership experience, and proficiency with Maya, Katana, Houdini, Arnold, and RenderMan.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Lighting Artist in feature animation, VFX, or high-end series, including time in a Lead or Supervisory role.
• A strong reel demonstrating high-quality lighting and rendering, with a deep understanding of color, mood, and cinematic storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of lighting artists, casting work appropriately and providing clear, constructive feedback in dailies and reviews.
• Collaborate with VFX Supervisor, Head of Cinematography, Lighting, Production Designer, and Art Directors to establish lighting style and quality bar.
• Supervise lighting of shots and sequences to support story, performance, and visual continuity.
• Create or refine key lighting shots or setups for complex scenes to establish quality and technical approach.
• Work with Surfacing, FX, CFX, Matte Painting, and Comp to ensure assets and renders integrate smoothly.
• Help define lighting tools, rigs, templates, and workflows with Technical Supervisors and pipeline teams.
• Provide input on lighting complexity and progress to Production Management for planning.
• Troubleshoot lighting challenges and collaborate on solutions that meet schedule needs while preserving quality.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team culture.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Tools

Maya

Katana

Houdini

Arnold

RenderMan

Job description

This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth. 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 Lighting Supervisor to support our upcoming animated feature film.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and mentor a team of lighting artists, casting work appropriately and providing clear, constructive feedback in dailies and reviews
• Collaborate with the VFX Supervisor, Head of Cinematography, Lighting, Production Designer, and Art Directors to establish the lighting style, color palette, and quality bar for the show
• Supervise the lighting of shots and sequences, ensuring that lighting choices support story, performance, and visual continuity
• Create or refine selected key lighting shots or setups as needed - particularly complex, hero, or reference-setting work - to help establish the quality bar, style, and technical approach for the team
• Work closely with Surfacing, FX, CFX, Matte Painting, and Compositing teams to ensure assets and renders are prepared and integrated efficiently into the lighting workflow
• Help define and refine lighting tools, rigs, templates, and workflows in partnership with Technical Supervisors, TDs, and pipeline teams
• Provide input to Production Management and department leadership on lighting complexity and progress to support realistic planning and prioritization
• Troubleshoot technical and artistic challenges in lighting, collaborating on solutions that maintain quality while meeting schedule needs
• Help foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team culture where artists can do their best work

What You’ll Need

• Significant experience as a Lighting Artist in feature animation, VFX, or high-end series, including time in a Lead or Supervisory role
• A strong reel demonstrating high-quality lighting and rendering, with a deep understanding of color, mood, and cinematic storytelling
• Proficiency with industry-standard lighting and rendering tools (e.g., Maya, Katana, Houdini, and renderers such as Arnold, RenderMan, or similar)
• Strong understanding of how lighting interacts with Modeling, Surfacing, FX, CFX, Matte Painting, Compositing, and Rendering within a production pipeline
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to give clear, constructive feedback and collaborate effectively across departments
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

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
• family-forming benefits
• paid leave of absence programs
• paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off

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.