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Cinematic Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · On-site

$118K - $185K/yr

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and environment teams to craft unified compositions, visual clarity and help drive action. We are looking for ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · Hybrid

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and environment teams to craft unified compositions, visual clarity and help drive action. We are looking for ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$118K - $185K/yr

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and environment teams to craft unified compositions, visual clarity and help drive action. We are looking for ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · Hybrid

$122K - $146K/yr

Strong eye for cinematic and real-world lighting, color grading, and shot continuity. * Robust ... An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback, whether that ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

Strong eye for cinematic and real-world lighting, color grading, and shot continuity. * Robust ... An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback, whether that ...

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How much do cinematic lighting artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 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 job?

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? The top searched job categories for Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs are:
Cinematic Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cinematic Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 70% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 13% Temporary. Highlights an 83% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,541 per year, or $62.3 per hour.

Senior Lighting Artist

CD PROJEKT RED

Boston, MA • On-site

$118K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Company Description
To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers - this is our mission. As a driven team of talented professionals from all around the globe, we want to earn our place as one of the world's top video-game developers, push narrative boundaries, and build unforgettable stories that set and redefine the standards for the genre.
Job Description
CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Lighting Artist to join our Boston hub and the team working on Cyberpunk 2, the next mainline Cyberpunk 2077 game. You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and environment teams to craft unified compositions, visual clarity and help drive action.
We are looking for someone with a proven fluency in the language of lighting and understands how important it is to the finished product.
Daily Responsibilities
  • Work both independently and collaboratively to create an optimal lighting pipeline for the project.
  • Daily work in lighting missions, open world and cinematic spaces.
  • Collaborate in the creation of color scripts as necessary.
  • Create workflows and best practices for the lighting team.
  • Keeping artistic style consistent with defined visual style for the game.
  • Work with design to develop mission and environmental flow as needed.
  • Work with leads and Production to estimate and plan work.
  • Work closely with technical artists to develop new or improved techniques.
  • Write and prepare briefs for work with outsource vendors, review work as necessary.
  • Mentor other Lighting artists, and help build an environment of creativity, trust and excellence.

Qualifications
  • 5+ years of experience as a lighter in games.
  • Ability to work independently and both drive and manage tasks to deliver results.
  • An understanding of both real-time and baked lighting.
  • Solid portfolio demonstrating expertise.
  • Strong knowledge of lighting tools and pipelines in UE5.
  • Strong knowledge of direct and indirect light, luminance and color theory.
  • Clear understanding and ability to evaluate and translate game and narrative beats into lighting scenarios.
  • Ability to clearly communicate in a cross-functional working environment, and comfortable sharing ideas and feedback in ways that support the team and project.
  • Ability to deliver and receive feedback in a productive and accountable manner.

Nice-to Have
(Please note these skills are not required to apply for the job)
  • General 3d modeling skills.
  • Experience in practical lighting for film.

Candidates should include a portfolio or website with examples of their work. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
Additional Information
The application window for this position will close by 09/017/2026.
This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.
Health & Well-Being
  • Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
  • Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
  • Paid leave - 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year.
  • 401k with employer matching.
  • Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) - $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
  • Menstrual leave - employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
  • RED Parents Network - support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.

Perks & Professional Growth
  • Flexible working hours.
  • Trainings, lectures, and courses - internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
  • A welcome pack filled with goodies - to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office
  • Dog-friendly office - bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There's always a furry friend or two to meet.
  • Truly international working environment - a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
  • No dress-code - we like to keep it casual.

This position is a backfill.
Estimated pay range for this position: $118,200 - $185,100 USD annually
At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.
If you've observed any irregularities (i.e. legal or ethical violations) in our recruitment process, please click here to report them anonymously.
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