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Full Time Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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

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 ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · On-site

$118K - $185K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and ... Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity. Health & Well-Being * Company-paid ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$118K - $185K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and ... Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity. Health & Well-Being * Company-paid ...

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

New

AGBO Films LLC

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

thelab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

Anatomage, Inc.

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a VFX and Animation Artist at Anatomage, you will be the driving creative force behind our real ... You will utilize your 3D generalist skills - spanning modeling, texturing, and lighting - to create ...

Anatomage, Inc.

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Santa Clara, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a VFX and Animation Artist at Anatomage, you will be the driving creative force behind our real ... You will utilize your 3D generalist skills - spanning modeling, texturing, and lighting - to create ...

TheLab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150K/yr

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

TheLab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

Anatomage, Inc.

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a VFX and Animation Artist at Anatomage, you will be the driving creative force behind our real ... You will utilize your 3D generalist skills - spanning modeling, texturing, and lighting - to create ...

Swaybox Studios

Lead 3D Tracking Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

VFX Supervisor and CG Supervisor Employment Type: Full Time Why join Swaybox Studios? Swaybox ... Animation, Lighting, and Compositing. * Create accurate rotomation of CG character rigs to match ...

Canoo

3D Visualization Artist

Justin, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • PTO

This position is full-time in-office. Candidates must reside within Dallas TX or have a reasonable ... Use Maya and Redshift Render for stills, animation, lighting, and shading * Data preparation of CAD ...

TheLab

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$225K/yr

Acting as the bridge between creative leadership, production teams, and 3D artists, this role defines technical workflows, oversees asset creation, lighting, rendering, and animation, and ensures the ...

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All JobsAnimation Lighting Artist JobsFull Time Animation Lighting Artist Jobs

Full Time Animation Lighting Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do full time animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for full time 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 a full time animation lighting artist do?

A Full Time Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for creating the lighting and mood in animated films, TV shows, or video games. They use digital tools to simulate how light interacts with characters and environments, ensuring that scenes are visually appealing and support the story. This role involves close collaboration with other departments, such as modeling, texturing, and compositing, to achieve the director’s vision. Lighting artists also balance technical and artistic requirements, optimizing scenes for rendering while maintaining visual quality.

What are some common challenges animation lighting artists face when working on feature films or TV series?

Animation Lighting Artists often encounter challenges such as balancing artistic vision with technical constraints, managing tight production deadlines, and ensuring consistency across large sequences or shots. Collaboration with other departments, like modeling, texturing, and compositing, is crucial to address issues like render times, color accuracy, and scene continuity. Staying adaptable and receptive to feedback is essential, as directors and supervisors may request multiple iterations to achieve the desired mood and storytelling impact.

What is the difference between Full Time Animation Lighting Artist vs Character Animator?

AspectFull Time Animation Lighting ArtistCharacter Animator
Primary FocusLighting and shading of animated scenesCreating and animating character movements
Skills & ToolsLighting software (e.g., Maya, Houdini), shading techniquesAnimation software (e.g., After Effects, Maya), character rigging
Work EnvironmentVFX studios, animation houses, game developmentAnimation studios, game companies, film production
CredentialsDegree in Animation, VFX, or related field; portfolioDegree in Animation, Fine Arts, or related; portfolio

The main difference is that a Full Time Animation Lighting Artist specializes in lighting and shading animated scenes to enhance visual storytelling, while a Character Animator focuses on bringing characters to life through movement and performance. Both roles require a strong understanding of animation principles and industry-standard software, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

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

To thrive as a Full Time Animation Lighting Artist, you need strong artistic vision, understanding of color theory, and experience with lighting techniques, usually supported by a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, and rendering engines like Arnold or RenderMan is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and collaboration skills help artists achieve visually compelling results and work effectively with production teams. These capabilities are essential for producing high-quality, emotionally resonant animations that meet project requirements and deadlines.

What cities are hiring for Full Time Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Full Time 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:

Full Time Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you

CGI Lighting

TheLab

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Position Summary:
The CGI Lighting Artist is responsible for creating high-quality lighting and rendering solutions for digital assets across a wide range of client projects. Working within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled production ecosystem, this role combines artistic expertise with emerging technologies to produce photorealistic imagery while supporting efficient, scalable production workflows.
The CGI Lighting Artist collaborates closely with modelers, texture artists, compositors, developers, and production teams to establish lighting that enhances realism, reinforces brand standards, and supports creative objectives. They will also help evaluate and integrate AI-enabled tools that improve lighting workflows without compromising quality.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Create realistic and visually compelling lighting for CGI assets across product visualization, advertising, retail, and marketing campaigns.
  • Develop lighting setups that enhance mood, realism, and brand consistency.
  • Optimize rendering workflows to balance visual quality with production efficiency.
  • Collaborate with modeling, texturing, compositing, and production teams throughout the creative process.
  • Maintain consistency across multiple assets, environments, and deliverables.
  • Troubleshoot rendering and lighting issues while ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Work with AI Developers and production teams to evaluate AI-assisted lighting, rendering, and workflow automation opportunities within HOME.
  • Contribute to lighting standards, documentation, and best practices across production teams.
  • Stay informed on advancements in CGI rendering, lighting techniques, and AI technologies relevant to production.

Required Qualifications:
  • 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 advertising projects.
  • Strong understanding of lighting theory, color, composition, and photorealism.
  • Experience with physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.
  • Strong attention to detail and visual storytelling.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with AI-assisted rendering or production workflows.
  • Knowledge of physically accurate materials and shader development.
  • Experience working with large-scale production pipelines.
  • Familiarity with automation tools or scripting (Python is a plus).
  • Experience supporting photography, product visualization, or e-commerce content production.
  • Understanding of cloud rendering and distributed rendering environments.

Technical Skills:
3D Software
  • 3ds Max
  • Houdini

Rendering Engines
  • V-Ray
  • Karma

Production
  • Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
  • HDRI lighting
  • Color management
  • Render optimization
  • Asset management

Emerging Technologies
  • AI-assisted rendering tools
  • Workflow automation
  • Basic scripting (Python preferred)
  • Familiarity with HOME AI workflows

Success in This Role:
A successful CGI Lighting Artist will:
  • Produce photorealistic lighting that elevates the quality of digital content.
  • Optimize rendering workflows for speed, consistency, and scalability.
  • Collaborate effectively with creative, production, and technology teams.
  • Help identify opportunities where AI can improve efficiency while maintaining creative excellence.
  • Contribute to the continued evolution of HOME by supporting innovative production workflows that combine artistic craftsmanship with emerging AI technologies.

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