Senior Lighting Artist

Cloud Imperium Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cloud Imperium Games in Manchester, UK, is seeking a Senior Lighting Artist to lead cinematic realtime lighting across Star Citizen locations. You will own high-quality lighting setups, collaborate with Environment Art, Tech Art, and Design, and push the visual fidelity to industry-leading standards.

The role focuses on mood, composition, and storytelling through light, with a strong emphasis on performance budgets and teamwork in a fast-paced studio environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in creating high-quality, AAA realtime lighting scenarios.
• Passion for inspirational lighting moods and storytelling through light.
• Excellent communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Deep understanding of cinematic lighting principles and composition.

Responsibilities

• Create and champion believable, cinematic lighting for major locations.
• Optimize lighting setups to fit realtime rendering budgets and performance.
• Collaborate with Lighting Lead and Art Director to maintain artistic vision.
• Work with Environment Art, Tech Art, and Design to improve workflows and player experience.
• Mentor junior and mid-level artists to raise team skill levels.

Skills

AAA realtime lighting

Mood and storytelling through light

Strong communication

Collaborative mindset

Job description

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA games. CIG prides itself in thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity and developing ground-breaking technology. CIG believes in raising the bar for the gaming industry and the gaming community as a whole.

About the Role

As a Senior Lighting Artist at CIG, you will be joining a team responsible for lighting all the amazing locations in Star Citizen. Star Citizen is a universe filled with solar systems, each of which are filled with diverse locations all of which the player can seamlessly fly down to from space and explore on foot.

In this senior position, you will take ownership of implementing and overseeing high-quality, complex, and cinematic realtime lighting scenarios for Star Citizen. This could be anything from a moody old Space Station in low orbit around a planet to a neon-filled cityscape located on a planet. The art pillars of the game are Cinematic Sci-Fi Realism. You will play a pivotal role in establishing the mood, tone, and visual quality for environments, ensuring the final frame showcases the artwork to the highest possible industry standard.

This is an onsite role based at our studio in Manchester, UK.

Check out what our Lighting team get up to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqt1fl56BlE&t=1s

What does a Senior Lighting Artist at CIG do?

• Create and champion believable, cinematic and narrative-driven lighting scenarios for major locations in the game.
• Optimise and ensure complex lighting setups work seamlessly within strict defined realtime rendering budgets, proactively identifying performance bottlenecks.
• Work closely with the Lighting Lead and Art Director to interpret, execute, and help maintain the overall artistic vision across the project.
• Collaborate deeply with other departments (Environment Art, Tech Art, Design) to pioneer workflows and help create the best player experience possible.
• Act as a technical and artistic resource for junior and mid-level artists, helping elevate the team's collective skillset.

What do we expect from our Senior Lighting Artists?

• Extensive experience in creating high-quality, AAA realtime lighting scenarios, with a strong portfolio showcasing a masterful handle on mood and composition.
• Someone who is deeply passionate about creating inspirational lighting moods and storytelling through light.
• Deep understanding of material shading, physically based rendering (PBR), and how the interplay of different materials impacts the final frame under varying light conditions.
• A profound knowledge of cinematic lighting principles (composition, colour theory, exposure) combined with the technical know-how to implement them in a cutting-edge engine.
• Someone who draws from a vast variety of reference material to constantly challenge themselves and push the boundaries of what is possible in realtime games.
• Excellent communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to thrive within a highly passionate, fast-paced team environment.

Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it's our differences that make it special.