ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cg Lighting Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame ... CG animated feature films a plus * Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial ...

15 FINGERS LLC

VFX Artist / Video Editor

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$65K/yr

Deep practical understanding of lighting and composition principles -- for 3D/CG work as well as evaluating and enhancing live-action footage -- even without a camera-operation background. * Comfort ...

Skydance

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame ... CG animated feature films a plus * Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial ...

15 FINGERS LLC

VFX Artist / Video Editor

Buffalo, NY · On-site

Deep practical understanding of lighting and composition principles for 3D/CG work as well as evaluating and enhancing live-action footage even without a camera-operation background. * Comfort with ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern cuttings, fabric ... lighting and color theory * Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Experience working hands-on with ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern cuttings, fabric ... lighting and color theory * Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Experience working hands-on with ...

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

$30.04 - $33.36/hr

Skilled in determining the center of gravity (CG) of a load and making necessary adjustments to ... and lighting conditions. * Training & Mentorship: Prior experience mentoring junior riggers or ...

Creatv

Government Meeting Production Crew

San Jose, CA · On-site

$27 - $32/hr

... lighting and sound engineering. * Able to perform the following crew positions in a studio setting: director, technical director, camera and CG operator. * Understanding of webcasting and indexing ...

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

$30.04 - $33.36/hr

Skilled in determining the center of gravity (CG) of a load and making necessary adjustments to ... and lighting conditions. * Training & Mentorship: Prior experience mentoring junior riggers or ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsCg Lighting Jobs

Cg Lighting information

See salary details

$12

$21

$31

How much do cg lighting jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for cg lighting in the United States is $21.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $24.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cg Lighting vs Lighting Designer?

AspectCg LightingLighting Designer
CredentialsOften requires technical training or certification in lighting technologyTypically holds a degree in lighting design, architecture, or related field
Work EnvironmentWorks with lighting software, technical equipment, and in studio or on-siteWorks on conceptual design, client meetings, and on-site installations
Industry UsageCommonly employed in film, theater, and digital media projectsPrimarily involved in architectural, theatrical, and event lighting projects

While Cg Lighting focuses on technical aspects and digital lighting creation, a Lighting Designer emphasizes creative design and aesthetic planning. Both roles require a strong understanding of lighting principles, but their focus areas and work environments differ significantly.

What are some typical challenges CG lighting artists face when working on complex scenes, and how can they address them?

CG Lighting Artists often encounter challenges such as balancing artistic vision with technical limitations, managing render times, and ensuring consistency across shots. Complex scenes with multiple light sources or intricate environments can lead to increased rendering costs and unexpected visual artifacts. To address these issues, artists frequently collaborate with other departments like modeling, texturing, and compositing to optimize assets and workflows. They also use efficient lighting setups, render layers, and compositing techniques to achieve the desired look while staying within production constraints.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a CG lighting artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CG Lighting Artist, you need a strong understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and digital art, often supported by a degree in art, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, and rendering engines like Arnold or V-Ray is typically required. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills are valuable soft skills that help artists achieve visually compelling results. These abilities are critical for creating realistic and aesthetically pleasing scenes that elevate the overall quality of visual projects.

What is CG lighting?

CG Lighting refers to the process of adding and manipulating light sources within computer-generated (CG) environments for visual effects, animation, and digital imagery. Lighting artists use specialized software to simulate realistic or stylized lighting scenarios, enhancing mood, depth, and realism in 3D scenes. Their work is essential for defining the look and feel of animated films, video games, and visual effects in live-action movies. CG Lighting involves technical and artistic skills, including an understanding of color, composition, and the behavior of light.
More about Cg Lighting jobs
What cities are hiring for Cg Lighting jobs? Cities with the most Cg Lighting job openings:
What states have the most Cg Lighting jobs? States with the most job openings for Cg Lighting jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Cg Lighting jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Cg Lighting jobs are:
Cg Lighting jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cg Lighting job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, 36% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $44,268 per year, or $21.3 per hour.

Art Director

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking an Art Director to help shape the visual identity of an upcoming animated feature film. This role is central to defining and executing the overall look and feel of the film, ensuring a cohesive and compelling visual experience that supports both story and character.

The Art Director will report to the Production Designer and will work in close partnership with the Director and the rest of the creative leadership team to bring the film’s visual vision to life, translating conceptual ideas into a clear and actionable visual direction for the broader art team. Throughout production, they will collaborate across departments, including environments, characters, lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame.

This position requires a strong artistic sensibility, a deep understanding of visual storytelling, and the ability to lead and inspire artists in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. The ideal candidate is both a visionary and a problem-solver and someone who can balance creative ambition with production realities while pushing the film’s aesthetic to new heights.

Prior experience on an animated feature film is required.

Responsibilities
  • Champion and help execute the Director’s creative vision for the film’s visual identity, in close partnership with the Production Designer, ensuring consistency and excellence from development through final delivery
  • Define, develop, and clearly communicate the film’s artistic style, with a particular focus on environments, sets, props, and color design, establishing a cohesive visual language across all departments
  • Create and contribute high-quality concept art, visual development materials, and key imagery
  • Collaborate with the Production Designer to lead and oversee the Los Angeles and Madrid based Art Departments, fostering alignment, consistency, and a unified creative direction across global teams (including occasional travel as needed)
  • Provide ongoing artistic direction, feedback, and mentorship to team members, supporting their growth while maintaining high creative standards
  • Work closely with studio leadership, production, and technical teams to align on creative goals, production timelines, tools, and budget, balancing artistic ambition with practical execution
  • Prepare and deliver compelling presentations that communicate the film’s visual direction to studio executives, stakeholders, and external partners
  • Partner with production leadership, Talent Development, and Talent Acquisition to identify, evaluate, and help secure top artistic talent for key roles across departments (both internally and externally)
  • Facilitate clear and proactive communication across departments
  • Other duties as assigned
Requirements
  • 6 years of experience working on animated feature productions; experience in leading or supervising an Art Department, preferably within CG animated feature films a plus
  • Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial concept through final execution, with a strong sense of ownership and creative problem-solving
  • Exceptional understanding of design fundamentals, including composition, color theory, lighting, shape language, and visual storytelling
  • Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to guide, motivate, and develop artists in a collaborative production environment
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize across multiple demands while maintaining a high standard of artistic quality
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to clearly articulate creative direction to diverse teams
  • Ability to balance creative vision with production realities, aligning the needs of the show, department, and studio
  • Solid understanding of animation production pipelines, workflows, and tools, with proficiency in industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop
  • Experience working across multiple locations or with distributed teams is a plus
The compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors.  The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc. 
 
#Animation