Senior Lighting Artist & Technical Director

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Competitive salary

Professional growth opportunities

Generous vacation policy

Hybrid work in Centurion

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lighting Artist & Technical Director for our Centurion studio. The role blends artistic lighting with technical leadership to shape visual stories, optimize render pipelines, and mentor a team of artists in a hybrid on-site/remote setting.

You will lead lighting strategies, collaborate with directors and modelers, and drive tool development to improve workflow efficiency while maintaining high visual fidelity.

Qualifications

• 7+ years as Lighting Artist or Technical Director in animation, VFX, or gaming.
• Portfolio showcasing exceptional lighting artistry and technical problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of light, color theory, composition, and cinematography.
• Experience with real-time rendering engines is a significant advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience.
• Proficiency in scripting for tool development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement lighting strategies for complex 3D scenes and environments.
• Create realistic and stylized lighting setups that enhance mood and narrative focus.
• Optimize lighting scenes and render settings for efficiency without sacrificing quality.
• Collaborate with art directors, concept artists, and modelers to achieve the desired aesthetic.
• Develop and maintain lighting tools, scripts, and shaders to streamline workflows.

Skills

Lighting artistry

Technical problem solving

Team collaboration

Cinematography

Scripting: Python/MEL

Real-time rendering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics/ Fine Arts or related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

Arnold

V-Ray

Redshift

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

MEL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading name in the Arts & Entertainment industry, is seeking a talented and experienced Senior Lighting Artist & Technical Director to join their distinguished team in Centurion, Gauteng, ZA. This role embraces a hybrid work model, offering a dynamic blend of on-site collaboration and remote flexibility. The successful candidate will be pivotal in crafting the visual mood and atmosphere of our projects through expert lighting techniques and advanced technical solutions. You will be responsible for illuminating scenes, enhancing narrative depth, and ensuring the visual fidelity meets the highest industry standards. This position requires a strong artistic sensibility combined with robust technical expertise to solve complex lighting challenges and optimize rendering pipelines. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about visual storytelling and can contribute to a culture of innovation and excellence within our Centurion studio. Embrace this opportunity to shape the visual future of entertainment with a company that values creativity and technical mastery.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement lighting strategies for complex 3D scenes and environments.
• Create realistic and stylized lighting setups that enhance mood, atmosphere, and narrative focus.
• Optimize lighting scenes and render settings for maximum efficiency without compromising visual quality.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, concept artists, and modelers to achieve the desired aesthetic.
• Develop and maintain lighting tools, scripts, and shaders to streamline workflows and improve artist productivity.
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to lighting, rendering, and scene assembly.
• Ensure consistency in lighting and shading across all project assets.
• Stay abreast of advancements in lighting technology, rendering techniques, and real-time graphics.
• Mentor junior lighting artists and provide technical guidance.
• Participate actively in reviews and contribute to the artistic and technical direction of projects.

Requirements

• A compelling portfolio showcasing exceptional lighting artistry and technical problem-solving skills.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience as a Lighting Artist or Technical Director in the animation, VFX, or gaming industries.
• Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D software (e.g., Maya, Blender, 3ds Max) and renderers (e.g., Arnold, V-Ray, Redshift).
• Strong understanding of light, color theory, composition, and cinematography.
• Experience with real-time rendering engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) is a significant advantage.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python or MEL for tool development.
• Solid understanding of shading, texturing, and PBR workflows.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Passion for visual arts and the Arts & Entertainment sector.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, with an annual earning potential of up to R.
• A comprehensive benefits package includes medical and dental insurance.
• We provide ample opportunities for professional growth, including access to cutting-edge training and industry events.
• Enjoy a generous vacation policy designed to promote work-life balance.
• The hybrid work environment offers flexibility, complementing our collaborative studio culture in Centurion, Gauteng.
• Contribute to visually stunning projects within the dynamic Arts & Entertainment landscape.
• Be part of a team that values creativity, technical prowess, and artistic vision.