Lead Lighting Artist - Shape Mood, Mentor a Creative Team

Placements24; Vereeniging; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng, is seeking an experienced Lead Lighting Artist to head the lighting department for our animation and VFX projects. You will guide a team of lighting artists, shaping mood and storytelling through light and shadow.

You will set lighting style, collaborate with directors and VFX supervisors, and optimize scenes in 3D environments. A strong portfolio and technical fluency with Maya, RenderMan, and related tools are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in lighting for animation, VFX, or games.
• Strong portfolio of lighting work across styles and productions.
• Proficiency with industry-standard lighting and rendering software (Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and renderers (Arnold, RenderMan, V-Ray, Octane).
• Deep understanding of light, color theory, composition, and mood.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of lighting artists, providing direction, feedback, and technical support.
• Establish and maintain the lighting style and quality for projects, ensuring consistency and artistic integrity.
• Set up, adjust, and optimize lighting scenes in 3D environments to achieve desired mood and storytelling goals.
• Collaborate with directors, art directors, and VFX supervisors to realize the visual intent.
• Develop and implement lighting workflows and best practices.
• Troubleshoot lighting issues and ensure timely delivery of shots.
• Manage shot assignments and schedules for the lighting team.
• Stay current with advancements in lighting technology and rendering techniques.
• Ensure lighting integrates with other departments like look development and compositing.
• Review work and provide constructive criticism and approvals.

Skills

Lead lighting

Lighting design

Team leadership

Communication

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Arnold

RenderMan

V-Ray

Octane

Job description

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng, is seeking an experienced Lead Lighting Artist to head the lighting department for our animation and VFX projects. You will guide a team of lighting artists, shaping mood and storytelling through light and shadow.

You will set lighting style, collaborate with directors and VFX supervisors, and optimize scenes in 3D environments. A strong portfolio and technical fluency with Maya, RenderMan, and related tools are essential.