Lead Lighting Artist

2K; Novato (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Paid vacations

Paid sick leave

Parental leave

Wellbeing programs

Commuter benefits

Fitness-related reimbursements

401(k) / Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cloud Chamber is seeking a Lead Lighting Artist to guide a team of lighting artists in crafting real-time lighting that enhances immersive storytelling for AAA games.

You will collaborate with Art Directors and department leads to set visual quality standards, optimize lighting workflows, and ensure runtime performance while mentoring talent across disciplines.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of real-time lighting and final rendering experience.
• Lead Artist on at least one shipped AAA title.
• Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 and Lumen for real-time lighting.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of lighting artists to deliver high-quality lighting.
• Collaborate with Art Director and leads to maintain visual style and quality.
• Develop and optimize lighting workflows and troubleshoot runtime lighting constraints.
• Work with Core Tech to meet runtime rendering specifications.
• Partner with production to plan timelines and align with strategic goals.

Skills

Real-time lighting

Unreal Engine 5

Lumen lighting tools

UE Sequencer

PBR

Team leadership

Cinematics lighting

Job description

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the visual atmosphere and artistic direction of our games. In this role, you’ll collaborate with a passionate group of game developers and lead a dedicated team of lighting artists to craft visually stunning real-time lighting that supports immersive storytelling—bringing the richly imagined world of BioShock to life.

What You’ll Do:

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of lighting artists, driving quality, productivity, and professional growth while setting clear expectations and accountability.
• Partner closely with the Art Director and department leads to establish, maintain, and elevate the visual style and quality standards for lighting.
• Develop and optimize efficient lighting workflows, research cutting‑edge techniques, and resolve technical roadblocks.
• Work with the Core Tech Team to ensure technical specifications and runtime optimizations are met for real-time rendering engines.
• Partner with production to define realistic timelines, track progress, manage project priorities, and maintain alignment with strategic goals.

What We’ll Do Together:

At Cloud Chamber, we are champions of high standards, pushing for progress and embracing change. We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and identify solutions to overcome developmental obstacles to deliver a world‑class AAA experience.

Skills & Experiences:

• 7+ years of experience in real-time lighting and final rendering, with a track record of serving as a Lead Artist on at least one shipped AAA title.
• In‑depth practical knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, Lumen lighting tools, UE Sequencer, and Physically Based Rendering (PBR).
• Demonstrated experience lighting for in‑game cinematics and optimizing high‑quality lighting within runtime performance constraints.
• Proven track record of successfully managing, recruiting, mentoring, and retaining top‑tier artistic talent.

Who You Are:

• A reliable, positive force multiplier, actively seeking opportunities to integrate work across disciplines and contribute to a healthy, supportive team environment.
• A solid communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, package information for diverse audiences, and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
• Experienced in working in cross‑disciplinary teams with strong communication skills.
• Persistent and self‑motivated with a proactive mindset.
• Able to maintain effectiveness and quality under pressure, ambiguity, and fast‑changing priorities.
• An active listener able to build and maintain trust‑based relationships across all levels of the organization, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
• Highly open to feedback and direction, possessing a desire to learn new skills, and capable of producing quick, quality revisions based on new insights or constraints.
• A strong ownership of tasks, striving to drive work forward autonomously while maintaining a critical eye for detail and organization, ensuring high standards of quality.
• Dedicated to upholding Cloud Chamber's core values, contributing to a positive and respectful company culture while striving for excellence in all endeavors.

Who We Are:

At Cloud Chamber we strive to make BioShock games that move people: evocative, immersive, and meaningful experiences that stay with you long after you’ve rolled credits. Great games are born from great collaborations, supported by a culture that brings out the best in our teams. We work openly, learn through play, take ownership, push ourselves to be better, and deliver for our players.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $150,400 and $222,580 USD per Year.However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full‑time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness‑related expenses.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. When emailing prospective employees, we only use 2K.com accounts.