Senior Lighting Artist - Cinematic & Real-Time Environments

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lighting Artist for a hybrid role based in Bloemfontein, SA. You will sculpt virtual worlds with light, shaping mood, tone, and visual fidelity for cinematic sequences and real-time experiences.

You will collaborate with art directors and environment artists, apply PBR workflows, and mentor junior team members while staying abreast of rendering tech advancements at our Bloemfontein studio.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in lighting art for games, film, or animation.
• Proficient in lighting principles, color theory, and composition.
• Experience with PBR workflows and rendering.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement lighting for environments and characters for cinematics and real-time.
• Collaborate with art team to maintain visual style and mood.
• Use global illumination, reflections, and volumetrics for photorealistic or stylized results.
• Optimize lighting setups for real-time performance while keeping quality.
• Work with technical artists to troubleshoot lighting issues and pipelines.
• Mentor junior lighting artists and contribute to discipline growth.

Skills

Lighting

Real-time rendering

PBR workflows

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished name in the arts and entertainment sector, is seeking an accomplished Senior Lighting Artist to enhance their creative team. This hybrid position, based in Bloemfontein, Free State , calls for an artist who can sculpt virtual worlds with light, creating captivating atmospheres for both cinematic sequences and real-time interactive experiences. You will play a critical role in defining the mood, tone, and visual fidelity of our projects, working collaboratively with art directors, concept artists, and environment artists. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of light, color, and composition, combined with expertise in industry-standard lighting software. This is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to high-profile projects and shape the visual narrative in Bloemfontein .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement compelling lighting across environments and characters for both pre-rendered cinematics and real-time applications.
• Collaborate with the art team to establish and maintain a consistent visual style and mood for projects.
• Utilize advanced lighting techniques, including global illumination, reflections, and volumetrics, to achieve photorealistic or stylized results.
• Optimize lighting setups for real-time performance while maintaining high visual quality.
• Work closely with technical artists to troubleshoot lighting-related issues and develop efficient lighting pipelines.
• Incorporate feedback from directors and art leads to refine lighting solutions.
• Mentor junior lighting artists and contribute to the growth of the lighting discipline within the team.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in rendering technology and lighting techniques in the entertainment industry.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in lighting art for games, film, or animation.
• Proven expertise in industry-standard DCC tools and game engines (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Strong understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and composition.
• Experience with PBR workflows and physically-based rendering.
• Proficiency in creating and implementing lightmaps, dynamic lighting, and reflection probes.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to optimize complex scenes.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working in a hybrid team environment.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing exceptional lighting work in various styles is essential.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package of R per annum , inclusive of medical aid and retirement fund contributions. This hybrid role provides flexibility, allowing for remote work on certain days while fostering in-person collaboration at our modern Bloemfontein studio. Employees benefit from continuous learning opportunities, including workshops and masterclasses, and access to state-of-the‑art hardware and software. This is an excellent chance to advance your career in a creative and supportive environment.