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Internship 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC

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

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

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

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship animation lighting artist in the United States is $13.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.54 and $14.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an internship animation lighting artist do?

An Internship Animation Lighting Artist assists in creating the lighting setups that help define the look and mood of animated scenes. They work closely with senior lighting artists and other departments to ensure that each frame is visually appealing and supports the story. Interns may be responsible for setting up lighting rigs, adjusting light intensity and color, rendering test images, and troubleshooting technical issues. The role offers hands-on experience with industry-standard software and workflows, helping interns develop their artistic and technical skills for a future career in animation.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an internship animation lighting artist?

To thrive as an Internship Animation Lighting Artist, you need a solid understanding of lighting fundamentals, color theory, and basic animation or film production principles, often supported by coursework or a portfolio. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, or RenderMan, and knowledge of compositing tools like Nuke are commonly required. Creativity, collaboration, and attention to detail are key soft skills for producing visually compelling scenes and working effectively in a team. These skills ensure the creation of high-quality, emotionally resonant visuals that align with the project's artistic direction.

What collaborative opportunities can an internship animation lighting artist expect when working on animated productions?

As an Animation Lighting Artist intern, you'll work closely with other departments such as modeling, texturing, compositing, and animation to ensure that lighting enhances both mood and storytelling. Interns frequently attend team meetings, receive feedback from senior lighting artists or supervisors, and may participate in dailies where work is reviewed as a group. This collaborative environment helps interns understand the full animation pipeline and develop communication skills vital for a successful career in animation. Being proactive and open to feedback will help you make the most of these collaborative experiences.

What is the difference between Internship Animation Lighting Artist vs Animation Lighting Artist?

AspectInternship Animation Lighting ArtistAnimation Lighting Artist
CredentialsTypically enrolled in or recent graduate of relevant programsProfessional certification or experience often required
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, learning-focused, entry-levelFull-time studio environment, specialized role
Industry UsageUsed for training and entry-level positionsEstablished role in production teams

The main difference is that an Internship Animation Lighting Artist is an entry-level position designed for learning and gaining experience, while an Animation Lighting Artist is a full-time professional responsible for creating lighting for animations. Interns typically work under supervision, whereas professionals have more independence and responsibility in their projects.

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Internship Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Animation Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 12% Internship, 58% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $27,073 per year, or $13 per hour.

Senior Unreal Lighting Artist (Contract)

Steamroller Animation

NY • On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 16 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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