VFX Lighting Artist

Overview

Our client (a leading VFX Studio) is looking for a talented and detail-oriented VFX Lighting Artist to join their team, helping to create high-quality, photorealistic imagery across a range of projects. This role sits at the intersection of artistry and technical execution, requiring a strong eye for light, colour, and composition, alongside solid experience with modern lighting pipelines and renderers.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and refine lighting setups that enhance mood, realism, and storytelling across shots and sequences
• Work with lookdev, compositing, and FX teams to ensure visual consistency and continuity
• Optimise scenes for efficient rendering while maintaining high visual fidelity
• Troubleshoot lighting, shading, and rendering issues across complex assets and environments
• Contribute to the development and improvement of lighting workflows and pipeline tools
• Interpret creative direction and translate it into final pixel output
• Maintain organised and scalable scene structures within production pipelines

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Lighting Artist in VFX, animation, or related industries
• Strong understanding of lighting principles, colour theory, and physically based rendering
• Hands-on experience with Houdini and/or Katana for lighting workflows
• Solid experience with Mantra and/or RenderMan
• Familiarity with shader networks, AOVs, and render passes
• Experience working within production pipelines and version control systems
• Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail

Desirable Skills

• Experience with USD-based workflows
• Knowledge of additional renderers (e.g. Arnold, V-Ray, Karma)
• Scripting experience (Python, VEX, or similar)
• Understanding of compositing workflows (e.g. Nuke)
• Experience working on high-volume or complex shot-based productions

Personal Attributes

• Strong artistic eye with a passion for visual storytelling
• Collaborative mindset with excellent communication skills
• Proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet production deadlines