Lead Lighting Artist: Real-Time AAA Studio

Activision Blizzard; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 99,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Activision Blizzard is seeking a Lead Lighting Artist to guide a world-class team in creating compelling real-time lighting for Call of Duty environments and cinematics in Middleton, WI. The role emphasizes leading artists, mentoring teammates, and owning lighting initiatives across gameplay and storytelling goals.

You will work closely with the Art Director to drive visual quality, implement lighting that supports gameplay needs, and push technological and artistic boundaries within a AAA

Qualifications

• 8+ total years of Lighting experience, with 2+ years in a Lead role, in real-time game development or equivalent experience in film/television.
• Lead by example with a passionate and egoless attitude that welcomes feedback and enjoys a collaborative, iterative, fast-moving and adaptive workflow.
• Ability to quickly learn new software and adapt to proprietary tools.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Expert experience with game development engines and lighting tools (Unreal, Unity, or equivalent proprietary engines).
• Strong experience with baked lighting, dynamic lighting, light probes, reflection probes, post-processing, color grading, and image adjustment tools.
• Strong understanding and application of PBR workflows, physically correct lighting solutions, color theory, post-processing techniques, and industry lighting trends.
• An inspiring reel demonstrating strong, realistic lighting, modern development workflows, and creative solutions to development challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to craft and implement compelling real-time lighting that supports gameplay needs and artistic goals.
• Direct and employ volumetrics, color grading, and image effects to achieve desired visual and narrative objectives.
• Prototype lighting approaches, post-processing setups, and improve workflows to achieve the desired tone and gameplay needs.
• Spearhead lighting R&D efforts, partnering with experts within and across disciplines to streamline tools and processes while championing best practices and strong visual quality.
• Take high-level direction and guide your team through day-to-day execution, iteration, and feedback on lighting tasks and initiatives.
• Partner with artists, designers, and programmers to be a trusted champion of performance, efficiency, and quality.
• Inspire and mentor others as a role model of initiative, accountability, and attitude.
• Foster a thriving team with open communication, constructive feedback, and development opportunities.
• Hold a high bar for quality, execution, and accountability while fostering artist growth.
• Collaborate with Production to plan team goals, forecast milestone deliveries, and identify resource needs.

Skills

Lighting experience

Lead experience

Communication

Learn new software

Unreal Engine

Unity

Color grading

Problem solving

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Proprietary engines

Job description

Activision Blizzard is seeking a Lead Lighting Artist to guide a world-class team in creating compelling real-time lighting for Call of Duty environments and cinematics in Middleton, WI. The role emphasizes leading artists, mentoring teammates, and owning lighting initiatives across gameplay and storytelling goals.

You will work closely with the Art Director to drive visual quality, implement lighting that supports gameplay needs, and push technological and artistic boundaries within a AAA