Senior Lighting TD (Expression of Interest)

Framestore Limited; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking talented Lighting Technical Directors to join their creative team. This role involves the final assembly, lighting, and rendering of high-end photo-realistic VFX shots, requiring a blend of artistic vision and technical expertise. You will collaborate closely with supervisors and compositors to develop shots and optimize rendering setups, ensuring the highest quality results under tight deadlines. If you are passionate about visual effects and thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity offers a chance to contribute to groundbreaking projects in the film industry.

Qualifications

• Experience in shot look development and strong knowledge of lighting techniques.
• Proficient in Maya and Houdini, with good communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Assemble CG scenes and light shots according to supervisor briefs.
• Collaborate with supervisors to solve CG challenges and meet deadlines.

Skills

Lighting Techniques

Maya

Houdini

Nuke

Python

Mel Scripting

Colour-Space Understanding

Creative Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Time Management

Tools

Renderman

Arnold

Photoshop

Mari

Job description

Please note this is not currently an open role but we would like to hear from people who are available and interested in joining Framestore May-September 2025. Also, please be aware when applying that this role will be based in our London office for a minimum of 2 days a week so applicants must be within a commutable distance. This role is only open to those currently in the UK with right to work in the UK.

The multi-Oscar-winning creative Film & Episodic Studio at Framestore has worked with some of the greatest storytellers in film today. Collaborating with directors and producers across the complete filmmaking process to help design, plan and create beautiful images, we focus on finding innovative creative solutions to support their vision and set new standards for visual effects in cinema.

Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to everything we create. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

Lighting Technical Directors are responsible for the final 3D scene assembly, lighting and rendering of elements required to complete visual effects shots for high-end photo-realistic VFX films.

Responsibilities:

1. CG scene assembly including the correct assets from applicable departments
2. Lighting shots as briefed by the Visual Effects/CG Supervisor or Sequence Lead
3. Working closely with CG Supervisors to determine the best approach to solving CG challenges and developing the final look
4. Developing shots in collaboration with the shot Compositor
5. Rendering non-lighting passes as required by the shot Compositor
6. Creating lighting set ups and/or working with current set ups
7. Creating efficient rendering set ups in order to optimise render farm usage
8. Scrutinising the colours and directions of all light sources in the real-world scene and replicating them in CG
9. Staying on schedule and meeting set deadlines while maintaining the highest levels of quality
10. Ongoing communication with Production and leads regarding schedules and deadlines
11. Other duties as required including wrangling assets or elements of a shot from another department to ensure shots are completed to schedule

Essential Skills:

1. Previous experience with shot look development
2. A good understanding of colour-space
3. A strong knowledge of lighting techniques
4. A thorough knowledge of Maya and Houdini
5. A good knowledge of Nuke or similar compositing package
6. Excellent organisation, communication and interpersonal skills
7. Creative problem solving and attention to detail
8. Able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining high quality results
9. Able to work successfully as part of a team as well as independently
10. Reliable, with good time keeping and the ability to meet deadlines
11. Flexible and adaptable with the ability to work within a pre-set workflow or pipeline but also have the creativity and problem solving skills to work around issues
12. Extensive knowledge of either Renderman, Arnold or similar production renderer
13. Basic knowledge of physically plausible shading techniques
14. Basic knowledge of Python and/or Mel scripting
15. A strong understanding of Linux/Unix based operating systems

Desirable Skills:

1. Experience with digital paint software such as Photoshop and/or Mari
2. Experience working with effects elements and volume rendering
3. Knowledge and experience in other render packages
4. Experience with realtime-rendering packages
5. Good knowledge of other disciplines within VFX including simulation, Modeling and UV mapping, Texturing and Camera Tracking

Accessibility Statement

Our London studio is fully accessible, with step-free entry, accessible toilets on all floors, and quiet spaces available. We are committed to supporting disabled colleagues and providing an inclusive workplace for everyone.

Application Process & Deadline

We review all applications manually and do not use artificial intelligence to screen candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let us know—we are happy to accommodate your needs.