Senior Lighting Technical Director

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative studio environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Lighting Technical Director to lead lighting pipelines for high-end VFX and animation. Based in Paarl, you will collaborate with art and rendering teams to craft cinematic lighting and optimize shots for quality and efficiency.

You will develop tools, mentor lighting artists, and stay at the forefront of lighting technology, color theory, and cinematography to deliver visually stunning productions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as Lighting Technical Director or Senior Lighter in VFX/Animation.
• Strong lighting portfolio demonstrating technical problem solving.
• Proficient with industry lighting tools: Maya, Houdini, Katana, renderers (Arnold/RenderMan/V-Ray).
• Scripting skills in Python/MEL for tools and pipelines.
• Solid grasp of lighting, cinematography, color theory and composition.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain lighting pipelines for feature and animation projects.
• Collaborate with art and rendering teams to shape mood and lighting of shots.
• Create and optimize complex lighting scenes for render efficiency.
• Troubleshoot lighting, rendering and color pipeline issues.
• Develop custom tools and scripts to enhance lighting workflows.
• Provide guidance and support to lighting artists.
• Stay current with industry lighting tech, engines, and VFX software.
• Ensure color consistency across production pipelines.
• Participate in shot reviews with constructive feedback.

Skills

Lighting design

Cinematography

Color theory

Problem solving

Collaboration

Education

Degree in Computer Graphics / Film / Fine Arts

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Katana

Arnold

RenderMan

V-Ray

MEL

Python

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious entity in the Arts & Entertainment field, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Lighting Technical Director to join their acclaimed visual effects studio. This role is central to achieving the highest standards of visual quality in our productions, focusing on the technical and artistic aspects of lighting. Based in the scenic environs of Paarl, Western Cape , you will be instrumental in developing and implementing advanced lighting solutions, optimizing workflows, and collaborating with artists to create breathtaking cinematic imagery. We are looking for a candidate with a profound understanding of lighting principles, rendering techniques, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of visual realism and artistic expression.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain lighting pipelines and workflows for feature film and animation projects.
• Collaborate with the art and rendering departments to achieve desired lighting and mood for shots and sequences.
• Create and optimize complex lighting scenes, considering render times and efficiency.
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to lighting, rendering, and color pipelines.
• Develop custom tools and scripts to enhance lighting and rendering processes.
• Provide technical guidance and support to lighting artists.
• Stay current with industry advancements in lighting technology, rendering engines, and VFX software.
• Ensure color consistency and accuracy throughout the production pipeline.
• Participate in shot reviews and provide constructive feedback on lighting quality.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience as a Lighting Technical Director or Senior Lighter within the Arts & Entertainment (VFX/Animation) industry.
• A strong portfolio showcasing impressive lighting work and technical problem-solving capabilities.
• Expertise in industry-standard 3D lighting and rendering software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Katana) and renderers (e.g., Arnold, RenderMan, V-Ray).
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python and MEL for tool development.
• Deep understanding of lighting principles, cinematography, color theory, and composition.
• Experience with scene optimization and managing large datasets.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• A degree in Computer Graphics, Film, Fine Arts, or a related field is preferred.

Benefits

• A highly competitive salary and benefits package reflective of your senior technical expertise.
• The opportunity to work on visually spectacular, award-winning projects.
• Fully remote work arrangement, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment with leading industry professionals.
• Contribute to the artistic and technical excellence of high-profile entertainment productions.