Senior Lighting Artist (GameDev)

TL;DR

Senior Lighting Artist (GameDev): Elevating real-time lighting quality across characters, environments, and gameplay for The Sims with an accent on PBR workflows and visual storytelling. Focus on iterating lighting systems, optimizing performance across platforms, and collaborating with cross-functional art and engineering teams to refine visual targets.

Location: Must be based in Vancouver, Austin, Kirkland, or Redwood City; 3 days per week in-studio attendance required.

Salary: $111,600 - $182,800 (ranges vary by location/currency)

Company

hirify.global is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment, known for creating expansive gaming experiences and iconic franchises like The Sims.

What you will do

• Define and elevate lighting standards for characters, environments, and gameplay modes to meet Art Direction goals.
• Develop real-time lighting solutions utilizing physically based rendering (PBR) within proprietary engines.
• Iterate on lighting systems, workflows, and tools in collaboration with technical artists and rendering engineers.
• Analyze lighting behavior, identify rendering issues, and perform performance profiling for multiple platforms.
• Establish lighting best practices and maintain internal reference rigs.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to drive mood, tone, and narrative through spatial composition and light.

Requirements

• 4+ years of professional production experience as a Lighting Artist on shipped AAA titles.
• Strong understanding of PBR lighting theory and real-time rendering pipelines.
• Proven experience with both baked and real-time lighting workflows for PC and console.
• Proficiency in lighting optimization, performance tuning, and technical budget management.
• Demonstrated expertise with Maya, Substance Painter, ZBrush, and Photoshop.
• Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment requiring in-studio presence.

Nice to have

• Experience with shader authoring or tuning complex shading models.
• Prior work with subsurface scattering and complex material rendering.
• Demonstrated experience in technical documentation and providing training to other artists.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plans (401k).
• Generous paid time off, including 3 weeks of vacation and 16 paid holidays annually.
• Paid family leaves and parental/adoption support programs.
• Environment fostering creativity, inclusivity, and professional growth.