Senior Lighting Artist

Placements24; Riverton (UT); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote work environment

Health, dental and vision insurance

Professional growth and development

Collaborative virtual studio culture

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lighting Artist to join a fully remote studio, shaping lighting for games and cinematic sequences across pipelines.

You will collaborate with art directors and engineers, optimize lighting for real-time rendering, maintain documentation, and mentor junior artists while pushing visual fidelity from your home setup.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years as Lighting Artist in game development, VFX or animation, with senior experience.
• Proficiency with industry-standard 3D software and rendering engines (Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, Unreal, Unity, V-Ray, Arnold).
• Strong understanding of cinematography, color theory, light properties, and composition.
• Experience with physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.
• Able to analyze art direction and create effective lighting solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, especially in a remote team.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and refine lighting for 3D scenes to shape mood and visual impact.
• Collaborate with art directors, environment artists, and technical artists to align with the project’s aesthetic goals.
• Optimize lighting setups for real-time performance across platforms.
• Troubleshoot lighting issues to ensure visual consistency and quality.
• Stay current with rendering tech, lighting techniques, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain lighting documentation and team best practices.
• Provide guidance and feedback to junior lighting artists.
• Ensure lighting integrates with shaders, post-processing, and animations.

Skills

Lighting artistry

Cinematography

Color theory

Composition

Problem solving

Communication

Mentoring junior artists

Remote collaboration

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

V-Ray

Arnold

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly respected studio renowned for its visually stunning digital experiences, is seeking a talented Senior Lighting Artist to join their remote team. This role is critical in shaping the mood, atmosphere, and visual fidelity of our projects by expertly applying lighting techniques. You will be responsible for setting up, adjusting, and optimizing lighting for 3D scenes, ensuring they meet the artistic vision and technical requirements. We are looking for an artist with a strong understanding of light behavior, color theory, and composition, coupled with proficiency in industry-standard rendering engines and software. As a fully remote position, this opportunity offers the flexibility to work from anywhere, supported by robust digital collaboration tools and a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of visual artistry. Contribute your expertise to creating captivating visual worlds from your home environment, working with a leading studio known for its innovative output in Upington.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and refine lighting for 3D scenes to create desired moods, atmospheres, and visual impact.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, environment artists, and technical artists to achieve the project's aesthetic goals.
• Optimize lighting setups for real-time performance and efficient rendering across various platforms.
• Troubleshoot and resolve lighting-related issues, ensuring visual consistency and quality.
• Stay current with advancements in rendering technology, lighting techniques, and industry best practices.
• Develop and maintain lighting documentation and best practices within the team.
• Provide guidance and feedback to junior lighting artists.
• Ensure lighting integrates seamlessly with other elements such as shaders, post-processing effects, and animations.

Requirements

• A minimum of 6 years of experience as a Lighting Artist in game development, VFX, or animation, with a significant portion in a senior role.
• Proficiency with industry-standard 3D software and rendering engines (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, Unreal Engine, Unity, V-Ray, Arnold).
• Strong understanding of cinematography, color theory, light properties, and composition.
• Experience with physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.
• Ability to analyze and interpret art direction to create effective lighting solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly within a remote team setting.
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional lighting work and artistic sensibility.
• Experience with scripting languages is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and artistic talent.
• Flexible remote work environment, offering work-life balance and autonomy.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development on diverse projects.
• A highly collaborative and creative virtual studio culture.
• Generous paid time off and holiday allowances.
• Contribution to a retirement savings plan.
• Access to cutting-edge digital tools and technologies.