Senior VFX Lighting TD - Realistic Rendering & Tooling

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 550,000 - 850,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Professional development

Software access

Retirement plan

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lighting Technical Director for our Centurion-based visual effects studio. You will establish lighting pipelines, develop tools, and ensure photorealistic integration across complex scenes.

You’ll collaborate with DP, VFX Supervisors, and the Art Department, mentor junior artists, and stay ahead of rendering tech. A degree in CG or related field plus 6+ years in VFX lighting are required.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience as a Lighting TD or similar in VFX.
• Expert proficiency in 3D lighting and rendering software (Maya, Houdini, RenderMan, Arnold, V-Ray).
• Strong understanding of PBR workflows and shader development.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python or MEL for tool development.
• Excellent grasp of cinematography principles, color theory and composition.
• Ability to diagnose and solve complex technical and artistic challenges.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with ability to work in a team.
• A portfolio showcasing high-quality lighting and rendering for film/high-end CG.

Responsibilities

• Create, implement, and refine lighting setups for complex 3D scenes per artistic and technical specs.
• Collaborate with Art Department, Directors of Photography, and VFX Supervisors to achieve visuals.
• Develop and maintain lighting tools, scripts, and shaders to optimize workflow.
• Troubleshoot lighting and rendering issues to maintain production schedules.
• Work with render farm management to optimize render times and resources.
• Ensure lighting integration within composites is seamless and photorealistic.
• Mentor junior lighting artists and TDs; provide guidance and support.
• Stay updated on lighting tech, renderers, and VFX pipelines.
• Contribute to technical development and creative direction of the lighting dept.

Skills

Lighting expertise

PBR workflows

Cinematography fundamentals

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Portfolio review

Education

Degree in Computer Graphics or related field

Tools

Maya

Houdini

RenderMan

Arnold

V-Ray

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Lighting Technical Director for our Centurion-based visual effects studio. You will establish lighting pipelines, develop tools, and ensure photorealistic integration across complex scenes.

You’ll collaborate with DP, VFX Supervisors, and the Art Department, mentor junior artists, and stay ahead of rendering tech. A degree in CG or related field plus 6+ years in VFX lighting are required.