Senior Lighting Technical Director

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Life assurance

Retirement savings plan

Relocation assistance

Annual bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an experienced Senior Lighting Technical Director for a leading VFX studio in Kimberley. You will develop lighting tools, shaders, and workflows while lighting complex sequences, ensuring realism and artistic intent.

The role requires mastery of lighting physics, color theory, and proficiency with Maya or Houdini and industry renderers. Collaboration with CG team and mentorship of junior artists is essential, with relocation support available.

Qualifications

• Must have strong understanding of lighting physics and cinematography concepts.
• Proficient in Maya or Houdini and major renderers (Arnold/RenderMan/V‑Ray).
• Experience building lighting tools, shaders, and pipelines; scripting ability required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain lighting tools, shaders, and pipelines using Python, C++, or related scripting languages.
• Collaborate with CG Supervisor and Art Director to set lighting look for projects.
• Light and shade complex shots ensuring consistency and artistic intent.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Lighting theory

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Arnold

RenderMan

V-Ray

Python

C++

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading VFX and animation studio celebrated for its award-winning contributions to blockbuster films and episodic television, is seeking an experienced Senior Lighting Technical Director to join their team in Kimberley . This critical role bridges the gap between artistry and technology, ensuring that lighting integrates seamlessly into the production pipeline and achieves stunning visual results. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining lighting tools, shaders, and workflows, while also directly lighting complex shots and sequences. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of lighting principles, advanced technical skills in relevant software, and a strong artistic sensibility. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to shape the visual quality of major international productions within the innovative creative hub of Kimberley .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain lighting tools, scripts, and pipelines using Python, C++, or relevant scripting languages.
• Collaborate with the CG Supervisor and Art Director to establish the lighting aesthetic for projects.
• Light complex shots and sequences, ensuring consistency, realism, and artistic intent.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to lighting, rendering, and compositing integration.
• Create and optimize shaders and materials for efficient and high-quality rendering.
• Mentor junior lighting artists and TD’s, providing technical guidance and artistic feedback.
• Stay current with advancements in rendering technologies (e.g., Arnold, RenderMan, V-Ray) and VFX pipelines.
• Ensure lighting setups are optimized for render farm efficiency and scalability.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of experience as a Lighting TD or in a similar technical role within VFX or animation.
• Proven experience with major rendering engines such as Arnold, RenderMan, or V-Ray.
• Strong proficiency in Python scripting and/or C++ for pipeline development.
• Expertise in 3D software packages like Maya or Houdini.
• Deep understanding of light physics, color theory, and cinematography.
• Experience with look development and shader creation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, crucial for collaboration within a studio setting in Kimberley .

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including private health insurance, life assurance, and a retirement savings plan. Employees benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, including access to training, conferences, and specialized workshops. The studio provides access to cutting‑edge technology and a collaborative, creatively stimulating work environment in Kimberley . Additional perks include annual bonuses and relocation assistance for candidates relocating to the area.