Principal Lighting Artist
Description
THE STUDIO
We are a company for gamers, by gamers. We believe that truly good and deeply compelling games are timeless and will ultimately prevail over fine-tuned shallow addiction cycles. Our mission is to make deeply engaging and technically outstanding games, while embracing all the opportunities of cross-platform, new business models and a games industry in flux.
We are looking for ambitious and highly skilled people who share our passion for making outstanding games. You will need to be ready to take on the challenge of being part of a small but experienced and ambitious team, not be afraid to get your hands dirty, have a can-do attitude and a willingness to go the extra mile. For those up to the challenge, it's going to be a thrilling ride.
We are a company for gamers, by gamers. We believe that truly good and deeply compelling games are timeless and will ultimately prevail over fine-tuned shallow addiction cycles. Our mission is to make deeply engaging and technically outstanding games, while embracing all the opportunities of cross-platform, new business models and a games industry in flux.
We are looking for ambitious and highly skilled people who share our passion for making outstanding games. You will need to be ready to take on the challenge of being part of a small but experienced and ambitious team, not be afraid to get your hands dirty, have a can-do attitude and a willingness to go the extra mile. For those up to the challenge, it's going to be a thrilling ride.
PRINCIPAL LIGHTING ARTIST
As Principal Lighting Artist, you'll spearhead the enhancement of lighting and atmospheric elements, infusing scenes with sophisticated realism, tone, and depth. Your role involves accentuating narrative, drama, weather conditions, and time of day. Leveraging your technical expertise and aesthetic discernment, you'll contribute to visually cohesive environments for our world and cinematics, drawing upon foundational lighting skills. Additionally, you'll adhere to established design themes, referencing relevant production designs faithfully for continuity. Collaborating closely with our Art, Gameplay, and Creative Directors, as well as our Principal Artists and Engineers, you'll craft unforgettable experiences across all our games while adhering to technical and gameplay constraints to preserve visual integrity and ambiance.
What you’ll do:
- Achieve mastery in lighting that enhances characters and environments while ensuring a consistent visual style
- Is excited and capable of working with graphics engineers to develop and enhance technology and tools related
to lighting, atmosphere, and post-processing effects - Assist in developing dynamic day/night cycles that complement the project's visual target
- Lead and enhance the lighting skills of Environment artists through mentoring and guidance
- Maintain continuity throughout scenes and games by ensuring seamless transitions and consistent lighting effects
- Keep informed about advancements in lighting techniques and rendering engines
- Act as a craft ambassador, collaborating closely with Leads, Directors, Stakeholders
- Work independently while actively seeking opportunities to raise quality standards
- Apply foundational lighting skills to establish and maintain visual consistency across various aspects of the game,
including world-building and cinematics - Ensure consistency in lighting and provide feedback when working with external teams
Requirements:
- 8+ years industry experience in AAA content creation
- Need to be very much hands-on on the art and implementation side
- Exhibits a mastery of industry standard software and various engines, common and proprietary
- Strong understanding of stylized PBR material reaction in all lighting conditions
- Expert eye for composition, layout, set dressing, light, color theory, form, and level of detail
- Strong grasp of form, and silhouette in regards to organic and inorganic structures.
- Expert understanding of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) workflow
- Loves games, has a persistent pursuit of game art, and a strong willingness to learn
- Understanding of gameplay needs such as clarity & readability
- Able to work under pressure and meet production deadlines
Bonus points for:
- Prior experience working on AAA Open World games
- Has experience working in a proprietary engine and/or middleware solution
- Familiar with multiple main stream game engines
- Background in Computer Graphics, Computer Science
Note: In order to apply, please provide us with a link to your portfolio that gives us an overview of your skills and abilities.
The base annual salary range for this position in the United States is $70,000-130,000. The base salary is just one part of the overall compensation package. SEMC also offers a package of benefits, including, healthcare coverage, unlimited PTO, a remote work environment, flex working schedule, parental leave support, 100% 401k match on the first 3% of your contribution, and paid local hangout meals and events. For more details on the full benefits package please visit this link. All full time roles are also eligible for annual bonuses and equity.
This base pay range is for the United States only and does not apply to international locations. The range for each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by location and additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
Do you feel like you don’t meet each and every requirement on the job description? Many people don't apply for jobs unless they feel they exceed at every one of these job requirements. It’s very important for us at SEMC to ensure we have a diverse and inclusive group of talent, so please go ahead and apply!