Senior Lighting Technical Director

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 1,536,000 - 2,194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Professional development & conferences

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Lighting Technical Director to bridge artistry and technology in East London. The role focuses on building cutting-edge lighting pipelines, tools, and workflows to deliver high-quality renders efficiently.

You will work with the lighting and rendering teams to optimize scenes, develop shaders, and mentor junior TDs while maintaining studio standards. This position emphasizes technical excellence and artistic vision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in computer graphics or related field.
• 6+ years in lighting TD or similar senior technical role in animation/VFX.
• Strong Python scripting for tools and pipelines.
• Proficiency with Maya and renderers such as Arnold, V-Ray, RenderMan.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize lighting pipelines and tools.
• Collaborate with lighting, rendering, and TD teams to improve workflows.
• Troubleshoot lighting, rendering, and scene assembly issues.
• Create shaders, materials, and lighting rigs to achieve artistic looks.
• Mentor junior artists and ensure adherence to studio standards.

Skills

Python scripting

Maya

Lighting pipelines

Shader development

Renderers (Arnold/V-Ray/RenderMan)

Problem solving

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics or related field

Tools

Maya

Arnold

V-Ray

RenderMan

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned studio recognized for its visually stunning animated films and TV series, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Lighting Technical Director to join their team in East London. This integral role focuses on bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical execution in the realm of lighting. The Senior Lighting TD will develop and implement cutting-edge lighting pipelines, tools, and workflows, ensuring that the final rendered images achieve the highest standards of quality, artistry, and efficiency. You will collaborate closely with the lighting and rendering departments, as well as TDs and artists across the studio, to solve complex technical challenges and enhance the visual storytelling of our projects. This is a prime opportunity to make a significant impact on the aesthetic quality of award-winning productions, working from our vibrant East London facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance lighting pipelines, tools, and scripts using Python and other relevant technologies.
• Collaborate with the Lighters to establish efficient workflows and provide technical support throughout the lighting process.
• Optimize lighting scenes and render settings for speed and memory efficiency without compromising visual quality.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to lighting, rendering, and scene assembly.
• Create and maintain shaders, materials, and lighting rigs to achieve specific artistic looks.
• Work with the rendering department to ensure compatibility and optimize render times.
• Stay current with advancements in lighting techniques, rendering technologies (e.g., physically based rendering), and industry best practices.
• Research and develop new tools and techniques to push the boundaries of digital lighting.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior Lighters and TDs.
• Ensure adherence to studio standards and project-specific requirements for lighting and rendering.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience as a Lighting Technical Director or in a similar technical role within the animation or VFX industry.
• Strong proficiency in Python scripting for tool development and pipeline integration.
• Expertise with industry-standard DCC applications such as Maya and knowledge of renderers like Arnold, V-Ray, or RenderMan.
• Solid understanding of lighting principles, color theory, composition, and physically based rendering concepts.
• Experience with shader development and material creation.
• Familiarity with scene assembly and asset management workflows.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure in a collaborative team environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A keen artistic eye and a passion for creating beautiful and compelling imagery.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a performance-based bonus plan. Employees enjoy generous paid time off, retirement savings contributions, and opportunities for professional development, including access to conferences and workshops. The East London studio is equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software. We foster a creative and supportive work environment where technical and artistic talents are valued and nurtured. This role offers the chance to contribute to visually groundbreaking projects alongside a team of highly skilled professionals. Relocation assistance is available for exceptional candidates moving to East London.