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Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Steamroller Animation

$125K - $149K/yr

About Steamroller Animation It's different here. We're a fun-loving bunch, passionate about our ... About the role As a Senior Unreal Lighting Artist, you aren't just placing lights; you are a visual ...

NAUGHTY DOG, LLC

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

As a Cinematic Lighting Artist , you will collaborate with concept artists, animators, VFX artists and fellow lighters to create visually spectacular and engaging cinematic sequences. You will be ...

TheLab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

2K

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

2K

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

TheLab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

thelab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.

WI · On-site

$82K - $152K/yr

Senior Lighting Artist - Raven - Middleton, WI Raven Software is seeking a highly capable ... Experience in a secondary area such as environments, animation, or VFX. * Experience with basic ...

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.

WI · On-site

Lead Lighting Artist - Raven - Middleton, WI Job Opportunities: LinkedIn: Raven Software is seeking ... Experience in a secondary area such as environments, animation, or VFX. * Experience with basic ...

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

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Animation Lighting Artist information

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How much do animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation lighting artist in the United States is $29.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.76 and $32.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animation lighting artist do?

An Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for creating the lighting and shading in animated films, TV shows, or video games. They establish mood, atmosphere, and visual continuity by adjusting light sources, shadows, and reflections. Using software like Maya, Houdini, or Renderman, they work closely with the art and rendering teams to enhance scenes for storytelling. Their work ensures that characters and environments are visually appealing and convey the intended emotion.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation lighting artist?

To thrive as an Animation Lighting Artist, you need a strong grasp of lighting theory, color, composition, and computer graphics, often backed by a degree in animation, visual effects, or a related field. Expertise with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, RenderMan, and Arnold is commonly expected, and knowledge of render pipelines is highly valuable. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail help artists collaborate effectively and achieve a director's vision. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling scenes that enhance storytelling and meet project deadlines in a team-oriented environment.

What are some typical challenges animation lighting artists face during production?

Animation Lighting Artists often encounter tight deadlines, frequent revisions, and the challenge of balancing artistic vision with technical constraints such as render times and optimization requirements. They must also collaborate closely with other team members, such as animators, compositors, and technical directors, to ensure consistency and maintain quality throughout the production process. Adaptability and problem-solving are key, as lighting needs may change based on evolving creative direction or feedback. Successfully overcoming these challenges contributes significantly to the visual storytelling and overall production value of the project.

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Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Senior Unreal Lighting Artist (Contract)

On-site

Steamroller Animation
See more jobs at Steamroller Animationexternal

$125K - $149K/yr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Key responsibilities

  • Craft and execute high-end real-time lighting for cinematic sequences in Unreal Engine 5 with minimal oversight.

  • Use color theory and composition to establish the emotional tone of a scene based on color scripts and concept art.

  • Navigate a shot-based pipeline to deliver high-quality work within tight production deadlines.

Job description

About Steamroller Animation

It’s different here. We’re a fun-loving bunch, passionate about our craft. We grow together, learn together, play together, and work on some of the coolest projects on the planet. If you’re looking for a welcoming atmosphere, a culture that’s dedicated to helping you grow and thrive, and ample opportunity to advance, we’d LOVE to hear from you.

About the role

As a Senior Unreal Lighting Artist, you aren’t just placing lights; you are a visual storyteller. You will be responsible for the final look of cinematic sequences, translating mood, atmosphere, and narrative intent into the technical reality of Unreal Engine 5.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who doesn't wait for a list of instructions but instead looks at a shot and asks, "How can I make this look even better?" You will be embedded with our client’s team, collaborating directly with their Lead/Supervising Artist, while representing the high standards of Steamroller Animation.

What you’ll do

  • Craft and execute high-end real-time lighting for cinematic sequences in Unreal Engine 5 with minimal oversight.
  • Use color theory and composition to establish the emotional tone of a scene based on color scripts and concept art.
  • Independently improve lighting setups, inventing novel solutions for shots to ensure visual continuity across sequences.
  • Fine-tune light properties, surface shaders, and post-process volumes (bloom, fog, color grading) to achieve gold-standard visuals.
  • Navigate a shot-based pipeline to deliver high-quality work within tight production deadlines.
  • Work seamlessly within the client’s internal pipeline, maintaining clear communication and a solution-oriented mindset.
  • Ensure lighting setups are optimized for real-time performance without sacrificing visual fidelity.

Qualifications

  • Significant experience as a Lighting Artist in video games or high-end animation (Senior to Upper-Senior level).
  • Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, specifically using Sequencer and Movie Render Queue (MRQ).
  • A mastery of lighting fundamentals, including color theory, value, and composition.
  • Experience with Maya and version control systems like Perforce or GitHub.
  • Ability to take direction from a Lead/Art Director and translate feedback into beautiful visuals.
  • This role is remote but requires significant overlap with USEastern Time (EST) working hours to collaborate effectively with the project team.
Contract & Equipment
  • Status: This is a 1099 Contract position.
  • Hardware: Artists are responsible for providing their own workstation capable of handling high-end Unreal Engine 5 development. Specific hardware requirements will be discussed during the interview process. Any hardware upgrades required for smooth operations and performance are the responsibility of the artist.
Bonus Skills
  • Experience with Blueprints to enhance lighting or environmental effects.
  • Background in live TV, concerts, or virtual production (AR/XR).
  • Experience in a lead or mentor capacity.
  • Knowledge of secondary software like Photoshop or Nuke for LookDev.
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