Lead Lighting Artist

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 720,000 - 960,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical aid & retirement fund

Leave & public holidays

Career growth

Creative, supportive environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Lead Lighting Artist to guide the lighting team in shaping the visual mood for high-profile projects. You will define lighting art direction, mentor artists, and oversee lighting implementation to bring virtual worlds to life.

The role requires a strong artistic eye, advanced 3D lighting skills, and experience leading teams. This position offers opportunities for growth within a studio known for artistic quality and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in 3D lighting, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proficiency with industry-standard lighting and rendering software (Maya, 3ds Max, Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Strong understanding of color theory, composition, and cinematic lighting principles.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, MEL) for tool development is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement high-quality lighting art across projects, adhering to artistic direction and technical constraints.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of lighting artists, providing constructive feedback and ensuring artistic quality.
• Collaborate with environment artists, concept artists, and technical directors to achieve desired visual aesthetics.
• Optimize lighting scenes for performance across target platforms, balancing visual fidelity with efficiency.
• Establish and maintain lighting style guides and best practices for the art department.

Skills

3D lighting

Lead role

Color theory

Cinematic lighting

Python scripting

MEL scripting

Collaborative mindset

Artistic eye

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a visionary Lead Lighting Artist to guide their lighting team in Cape Town . This role is instrumental in establishing the visual mood and atmosphere for a range of high-profile projects, ensuring artistic consistency and technical excellence. You will be responsible for defining lighting art direction, mentoring artists, and overseeing the implementation of lighting solutions that bring virtual worlds to life. Join a studio renowned for its artistic quality and collaborative spirit, where your contributions will directly shape the visual identity of groundbreaking interactive experiences in Cape Town .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement high-quality lighting art across projects, adhering to artistic direction and technical constraints.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of lighting artists, providing constructive feedback and ensuring artistic quality.
• Collaborate with environment artists, concept artists, and technical directors to achieve desired visual aesthetics.
• Optimize lighting scenes for performance across target platforms, balancing visual fidelity with efficiency.
• Establish and maintain lighting style guides and best practices for the art department.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in 3D lighting , with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Expert proficiency with industry-standard lighting and rendering software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Strong understanding of color theory, composition, and cinematic lighting principles.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for tool development is a plus.
• Exceptional artistic eye and a passion for creating visually stunning environments.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package with annual bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund contributions.
• Generous leave allowance and paid public holidays in Western Cape .
• Opportunities for career growth and skill development within the studio.
• A vibrant and supportive work environment that encourages creativity and innovation.