Lead Lighting Artist

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance (medical, dental, and

vision

Job summary

Placements24 invites a highly skilled Lead Lighting Artist to steer lighting direction for our client's acclaimed game titles in Tembisa, Gauteng. You will mentor a team of lighting artists, define lighting aesthetics, and ensure consistency across environments, characters, and cinematics.

The role requires a strong artistic eye, technical prowess, and leadership to elevate visual fidelity and gameplay readability in fast-paced development cycles.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in lighting art for video games with at least 2 years in a lead or senior capacity.
• Portfolio showcasing lighting artistry in realistic and stylized environments.
• Proficiency with industry-standard lighting tools and game engines (Unreal/Unity).
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of lighting artists, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Develop lighting strategies for game environments, characters, and cinematics.
• Collaborate with art directors, environment artists, and technical artists to meet visual targets.
• Create and optimize lighting assets including lightmaps and post-processing effects.
• Establish lighting style guides and technical benchmarks for the team.
• Ensure lighting contributes to mood, atmosphere, and gameplay readability.
• Troubleshoot lighting issues and performance bottlenecks.
• Conduct regular reviews of the team's work and mentor skill development.
• Stay current with industry trends in real-time rendering and lighting.
• Contribute to the overall art direction and visual quality of game projects.

Skills

Lighting artistry

Leadership

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts / Computer Graphics

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

3ds Max

Substance Painter

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious game development studio located in Tembisa, Gauteng , is searching for a highly skilled and visionary Lead Lighting Artist to spearhead their visual storytelling through light and shadow. This critical role involves guiding a team of talented artists to craft breathtaking environments that evoke emotion and enhance gameplay. You will be instrumental in defining the aesthetic direction and ensuring visual consistency across all projects. The ideal candidate possesses a strong artistic eye, technical proficiency, and exceptional leadership qualities. Joining our client means becoming part of a passionate community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of visual fidelity in interactive entertainment. This position offers the chance to leave a significant artistic mark on acclaimed game titles and to mentor emerging talent within a supportive and innovative studio culture situated in the heart of Tembisa, Gauteng .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of lighting artists, providing artistic direction and technical guidance.
• Develop and implement high-quality lighting strategies for game environments, characters, and cinematics.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, environment artists, and technical artists to achieve desired visual targets.
• Create and optimize lighting assets, including lightmaps, dynamic lights, and post-processing effects.
• Establish and maintain lighting style guides and technical benchmarks for the team.
• Ensure lighting contributes effectively to mood, atmosphere, and gameplay readability.
• Troubleshoot lighting issues and performance bottlenecks, providing solutions.
• Conduct regular reviews of the team's work, offering constructive feedback and fostering skill development.
• Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in real-time rendering and lighting.
• Contribute to the overall art direction and visual quality of game projects.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in lighting art for video games, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior capacity.
• Demonstrable portfolio showcasing exceptional lighting artistry in realistic and stylized environments.
• Expertise in industry-standard lighting tools and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter).
• Deep understanding of color theory, composition, form, and the principles of light and shadow.
• Experience with PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a keen eye for detail.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python) is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and a generous retirement savings plan.
• Employees benefit from ample paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth are provided through workshops, conferences, and internal training programs.
• The studio cultivates a collaborative and supportive work culture with regular social events.
• This role is located in Tembisa, Gauteng , providing a stimulating environment for creative professionals.