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Cinematic Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Steamroller Animation

NY · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

You will be responsible for the final look of cinematic sequences, translating mood, atmosphere ... Significant experience as a Lighting Artist in video games or high-end animation (Senior to Upper ...

New

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC

Position Summary: AGBO is seeking a Senior Cinematic Layout Artist to help bring our in-game ... You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ...

AGBO Films LLC

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

Position Summary: AGBO is seeking a Senior Cinematic Layout Artist to help bring our in-game ... You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ...

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

Position Summary: AGBO is seeking a Senior Cinematic Layout Artist to help bring our in-game ... You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ...

Swaybox Studios

Unreal Technical Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

Unreal Technical Artist Location: New Orleans, LA Studio: Swaybox Studios Department: VFX ... lighting, rendering, and optimization of high-quality assets and environments for cinematic ...

New

Swaybox Studios

Unreal Technical Artist

New Orleans, LA

$122K - $146K/yr

Unreal Technical Artist Location: New Orleans, LA Studio: Swaybox Studios Department: VFX ... lighting, rendering, and optimization of high-quality assets and environments for cinematic ...

New

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Cinematic Lighting Artist information

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$30.5K

$129.5K

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How much do cinematic lighting artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for cinematic lighting artist in the United States is $129,541.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,000.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cinematic lighting artist?

A Cinematic Lighting Artist is responsible for creating visually compelling lighting in cinematics, cutscenes, or pre-rendered sequences in video games, film, or animation. They use lighting to enhance mood, direct the viewer’s attention, and ensure consistency with the artistic vision. This role requires a strong understanding of color, composition, shadows, and real-time or pre-rendered lighting techniques. Cinematic Lighting Artists work closely with other departments, such as environment artists, animators, and VFX teams, to achieve high-quality visuals.

What are the typical responsibilities and collaborative aspects of a cinematic lighting artist’s role on a production team?

As a Cinematic Lighting Artist, your daily responsibilities typically include designing and implementing lighting setups to create mood, atmosphere, and visual focus in cinematic sequences. You will often work closely with environment artists, animators, and cinematic directors to ensure the lighting complements the narrative and visual style. Collaboration and clear communication are key, as you may need to iterate on feedback from art directors or adjust for technical performance constraints. This role often requires balancing creative vision with the practical aspects of real-time or pre-rendered workflow, making teamwork a central part of the job.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the cinematic lighting artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cinematic Lighting Artist, you need a strong understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and visual storytelling, usually backed by experience or education in digital art or visual effects. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, or Unity, as well as a solid grasp of rendering engines and lighting systems, is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration skills help you translate narrative vision into visually compelling scenes. These abilities are vital for producing high-quality cinematic visuals that enhance narrative impact and meet production standards.

More about Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs

What states have the most Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs?

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

What job categories do people searching Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs look for?

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Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cinematic Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,541 per year, or $62.3 per hour.

Senior Unreal Lighting Artist (Contract)

Steamroller Animation

NY • On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 3 days ago

New

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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