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Assistant Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Steamroller Animation

NY · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

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 ...

2K

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

Lead Lighting Artist Novato, California, United States As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

NAUGHTY DOG, LLC

$95 - $118/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 ...

2K

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

Lead Lighting Artist Novato, California, United States As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber ... 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 ...

2K

Lead Lighting Artist

Novato, CA

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

$150K/yr

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 ...

Lighthouse games

Senior Lighting Artist

Whitehouse, TX · On-site

$60.04 - $86.72/hr

You will also assist in defining and maintaining a lighting pipeline and contribute to establishing lighting benchmarks and guidelines for the team. * Proven experience as a Lighting Artist in the ...

New

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

$82 - $152/hr

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 ...

Posted today

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Assistant Animation Lighting Artist information

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How much do assistant animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant 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 is the difference between Assistant Animation Lighting Artist vs Assistant Animation Lighting Artist?

AspectAssistant Animation Lighting Artist

The Assistant Animation Lighting Artist primarily focuses on supporting the lighting process for animated scenes, working closely with lighting artists to set up and adjust lighting setups. They typically require knowledge of lighting software, basic animation principles, and industry-standard tools. Their work environment is often in animation studios, VFX companies, or game development teams. This role is commonly searched alongside similar positions like Lighting Artist or Lighting Technician, but the Assistant Animation Lighting Artist specifically emphasizes support tasks within animation projects.

Are assistant animation lighting artists in demand?

Assistant animation lighting artists are in steady demand within the animation and visual effects industries, especially as demand for high-quality digital content grows. Skills in industry-standard software like Maya or Blender and a strong understanding of lighting techniques increase employability, with opportunities available in film, gaming, and advertising sectors.

What does an assistant animation lighting artist do in animation?

An assistant animation lighting artist helps set up and adjust lighting for animated scenes to enhance mood, depth, and visual clarity. They work closely with lighting artists and use software like Maya or Houdini to ensure scenes are properly lit according to the artistic direction and technical requirements.

What cities are hiring for Assistant Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Assistant 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 Assistant Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Assistant Animation Lighting Artist jobs include:

Assistant Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you

Senior Unreal Lighting Artist (Contract)

Steamroller Animation

NY • On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 17 days ago

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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