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Lighting Artist Job Description

We have crafted a series of job description examples for a variety of digital roles.

Very often, in-house recruiters and HR departments ask us to help them write their job descriptions, and since this aspect of our recruitment service is very useful to them, we’ve realised that this could be useful to others too, so we have provided a list of job descriptions here.

With more than 20 years of experience in digital and technology recruitment and having placed thousands of candidates in Ireland and across Europe, we understand the value of a compelling job description, so we hope that these examples will help you in your search for a digital or technology professional; please feel free to use and edit to as per your specific needs and preferences.

If you are a candidate seeking a role, you can view a list of our current job offers on our job board.

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Example of a Lighting Artist Job Description

INTRODUCTION:

Lighting artists are essential members of the visual effects (VFX), animation, and gaming industries. They are responsible for creating compelling and realistic lighting setups that enhance the mood, atmosphere, and visual appeal of digital environments and characters. Working closely with directors, art directors, and other team members, lighting artists use their creative and technical skills to bring scenes to life through dynamic lighting and shading effects.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Collaborate with directors, art directors, and production designers to understand the visual style, mood, and lighting requirements for each project.
  • Create lighting setups that enhance storytelling, emotion, and atmosphere in digital environments and characters.
  • Use lighting software such as Autodesk Maya, Pixar RenderMan, or SideFX Houdini to place and manipulate light sources, shadows, and reflections.
  • Experiment with different lighting techniques, including global illumination, ray tracing, and volumetric lighting, to achieve desired visual effects.
  • Fine-tune lighting parameters such as intensity, color, and falloff to achieve realistic and visually striking results.
  • Work closely with texture artists and shading artists to ensure consistency and fidelity in lighting and materials.
  • Collaborate with compositors and rendering engineers to optimize render times and maintain production deadlines.
  • Troubleshoot lighting issues and render artifacts, providing creative solutions while adhering to technical constraints.
  • Keep abreast of industry trends and techniques in lighting and rendering, incorporating innovative approaches into lighting setups.
  • Communicate effectively with team members, providing clear explanations and visual references to support the lighting process.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience as a lighting artist or a related role in visual effects, animation, or gaming.
  • Bachelor's degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, or a relevant field.
  • Proficiency in lighting and rendering software such as Autodesk Maya, Pixar RenderMan, SideFX Houdini, or similar tools.
  • Strong understanding of lighting principles, including color theory, composition, and contrast.
  • Knowledge of shading techniques and material properties to achieve realistic lighting effects.
  • Experience with compositing software such as Adobe After Effects, Nuke, or Fusion for integrating lighting passes into final frames.
  • Familiarity with HDR imaging, image-based lighting (IBL), and HDRI workflows.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail, especially when troubleshooting render issues or optimizing render settings.
  • Ability to work efficiently under pressure and adapt to evolving project requirements.
  •  Portfolio showcasing a range of lighting setups and visual effects in various digital environments and characters.

NICE TO HAVES:

  •  Proficiency in scripting or programming languages such as Python or MEL scripting for automating repetitive tasks or developing custom tools.
  •  Experience with real-time rendering engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity for interactive applications or games.
  • Knowledge of cinematography principles, including camera angles, lenses, and framing, to enhance lighting compositions.
  • Background in photography or traditional art, understanding of lighting techniques in practical and digital mediums.
  • Familiarity with physically-based rendering (PBR) workflows and shader development for achieving realistic material properties.

BENEFITS:

  • Competitive salary based on experience and expertise.
  • Flexible working arrangement (Hybrid, Remote, Office) 
  • Perks such as health benefits, professional development opportunities, and creative resources.

CTA (CALL TO ACTION):

We are accepting applications until the end of *MONTH*. We’ll be delighted to meet you for a first interview with *NAME*, our hiring manager.

If you are looking for roles that are more marketing specific, you can check the Job Descriptions

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Writing a job spec is the first phase of the hiring process at any given company, we love to help companies do this in an effective way so we've put together a post where we explain our secrets for a well structured hiring process and how to make it more efficient.