Contract Lighting Artist (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Contract Lighting Artist (Unreal Engine 5/Gamedev): Creating atmospheric and dread-soaked lighting for a horror puzzle franchise with an accent on GPU Lightmass workflows and emotional tone setting. Focus on optimizing lighting for PC and console while implementing advanced post-process pipelines to maintain high visual quality.

Location: United States (Remote)

Company

Indie studio behind the iconic Poppy Playtime horror puzzle franchise.

What you will do

• Design and implement optimized lighting using UE5 GPU Lightmass to drive mood and narrative.
• Collaborate with environment, VFX, and art direction teams to ensure visual consistency.
• Develop lighting standards, style guides, and best-practice documentation.
• Optimize lighting setups for performance on PC and consoles without sacrificing quality.
• Mentor junior and mid-level lighting artists through feedback and iteration.
• Contribute to post-process pipeline development including bloom, lens flares, and color grading.

Requirements

• 4+ years of games industry experience with at least one shipped title.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 lighting and GPU Lightmass pipeline.
• Strong understanding of real-world lighting, photography, and cinematography principles.
• Proven ability to create horror, suspense, or atmospheric lighting styles.
• Experience optimizing lighting for real-time performance on PC and consoles.
• Must be based in the United States

Nice to have

• Experience with dynamic lighting and scripted cinematic sequences.
• Background in Environment Art or Cinematics.
• Knowledge of color theory and LUT pipelines for PBR games.
• Passion for the horror genre and atmospheric storytelling.

Culture & Benefits

• Remote-first work environment.
• Profit sharing for eligible employees.
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
• 401(k) matching and FSA/HSA options.
• Paid time off, sick leave, and parental leave.