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Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Expert understanding of particle systems, shaders, lighting, and real-time rendering pipelines ... Exceptional eye for the timing, animation, weight, and motion of real-world phenomena and visual FX.

Technical Artist

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$121.90K - $145.80K/yr

Design and execute a variety of assets (digital environments, animation, graphics packages, etc ... lighting and rendering. * Experience creating generative and interactive content as well as real ...

Technical Artist

Cincinnati, OH

$121.90K - $145.80K/yr

Design and execute a variety of assets (digital environments, animation, graphics packages, etc ... lighting and rendering. * Experience creating generative and interactive content as well as real ...

Bachelor's degree in visual digital effects, digital filmmaking, media production, animation ... Understanding of digital photography and lighting techniques Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a ...

Bachelor's degree in visual digital effects, digital filmmaking, media production, animation ... Understanding of digital photography and lighting techniques Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a ...

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Animation Lighting Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 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 in the Animation Lighting Artist position, and why are they important?

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.
What cities are hiring for Animation Lighting Artist jobs? Cities with the most Animation Lighting Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs? The most popular types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Animation Lighting Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Animation Lighting Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animation Lighting Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Animation Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Other

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

Who are we hiring?

We are seeking an experienced 3D Generalist with passion for creating content for the largest screen in the world.

This 3D generalist role requires experience across every aspect of 3D: camera tracking and layout, modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, particles, dynamics, lighting, and rendering, with expert level skills in one or more of those areas. 

Expected to work closely with leadership in creative development, production, post-production, and playback, this position is ideal for good communicators with a positive attitude and experience at creative problem solving.  This role is part of a production artist group exploring and developing a unique visual and technical language for Sphere, in collaboration with the creative development team.  

What will you do? 

  • Work through the lifecycle of the content, advise on where efficiencies can be gained via current and advancing toolsets.
  • Collaborate in a production artist group exploring and developing a unique language for Sphere, in collaboration with a creative development team. 
  • Provide technical and artistic solutions to fulfill creative requirements, collaborating cross-department to achieve deliverable goals to studio standards. 
  • Utilize 3D capabilities to solve technical problems and create new workflows to fulfill creative needs. 
  • Stay up-to-date with trends in art, design, and advancing technology.
  • Work with supervisors to address notes from clients or creative teams to create content.
  • Document tools and techniques for departmental reference.
  • Collaborate with the team to solve complex challenges and contribute to best practices and workflows from development to compositing.
  • Additional responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.
  • Provide exceptional experiences for our guests, partners, and team members, including by adhering to our appearance and presentation guidelines while on-site.  

Requirements:   

  • Proficiency equivalence to 5+ years of experience working as 3D/CG generalist. 
  • Proficient user of Cinema 4D and Adobe Suite plus working knowledge of other 3D software and tools. 
  • Knowledge of lighting and rendering, with experience in Redshift is desirable
  • Experience with Motion Graphics and Animation for events, commercials, or advertising. 
  • Working knowledge of real-time software toolsets, creation, and rendering of that content in those DCCs (Unreal Engine) is desirable.
  • Understanding and experience within 3D Pipeline from visualization to final render. 
  • Positive attitude and proven track record in creative problem solving with expressed interest in new technology and processes. 
  • Software agnosticism a plus; adaptability to new pipelines and utilization of provided tools is critical.
  • Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively under pressure.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with other departments and stakeholders.
  • Passion for innovation and a commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and technologies.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing creative and technical demands.

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