Senior Lighting Artist (Game Development)

TL;DR

Senior Lighting Artist (Game Development): Shaping the visual aesthetics and emotional resonance of in-game worlds by creating and implementing real-time lighting setups with an accent on enhancing tone, visual storytelling, and gameplay experience. Focus on optimizing lighting solutions for performance, aligning with artistic vision, and elevating visual fidelity through light theory, color balance, and real-time rendering.

Location: Remote (United States)

Salary: $102,000–$125,000 USD

Company

hirify.global is a game development company known for creating captivating in-game worlds.

What you will do

• Collaborate with leadership and cross-discipline teams to maintain lighting aesthetic and technical standards.
• Create lighting for significant portions of in-game worlds using proprietary toolsets.
• Develop dynamic/scripted lighting, character and hard surface object light rigs, and in-game narrative content.
• Ensure gameplay needs are met by working with Design stakeholders.
• Stay informed on new developments in rendering, particularly lighting, atmosphere, and surfaces.
• Provide constructive feedback to production artists on lighting-related tasks.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of lighting, shadow, and color for visually engaging spaces.
• Ability to adapt to design references and narrative context for mood, tone, and fidelity.
• Experience lighting characters, environments (interior/exterior, various times of day) with various techniques and tools.
• Understanding of composition and ability to enhance mood through lighting.
• Experience with materials/shaders and their relationship with light.
• Competent 3D modeling/texturing skills (e.g., light fixtures).
• Wide understanding of lighting/rendering technologies.
• Experience with Unreal Engine 4, 5, Unity3D, or other modern development toolsets.
• Passion for games.

Nice to have

• Experience partnering with graphics engineers, tech art, and tools teams for lighting processes/technology.
• Experience guiding junior artists.
• Experience coordinating team efforts with external developers.

Culture & Benefits

• Eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package (medical, dental, vision).
• Matching 401(k).
• Paid time off and wellness program.
• Employee discounts for Sony products.
• Potential bonus package.
• Hybrid working policy with location-based pay variation.