Expert Lighting Artist - Sledgehammer Games
About The Position
Sledgehammer Games is seeking a talented and passionate Expert Lighting Artist to join their growing team in Toronto, CA. This role involves working collaboratively with global teams to create awe-inspiring landscapes in video games. The lighting team is responsible for mood, visual storytelling, and driving player emotion, working closely with art and creative directors to enhance gameplay. The position offers a hybrid work model with a combination of in-studio and remote days. Sledgehammer Games is a leading developer in the video game industry, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise and commitment to excellence in visual and gameplay fidelity.
Requirements
- Extensive experience in a Lighting role in the gaming industry (+12 years)
- Excellent working knowledge of Maya and Photoshop or equivalent
- In-depth knowledge of physically based lighting
- Strong understanding of advanced lighting fundamentals
- Strong sense of lighting theory; color space, exposure, light fixtures, natural light, reflections etc.
- Proven track-record of leading and inspiring teams
- Understanding of composition and the ability to enhance mood with lighting
- Effectively use color grading and post effects to enhance the final image
- Working knowledge of industry standard rendering concepts and processes
- Experienced with Unreal, Unity, or other proprietary engines
- Experience with PBR & HDR lighting
- Familiarity with ray tracing/path tracing systems
- Ability to use AI as a development tool
Nice To Haves
- Experience with one or more scripting/programming languages.
- Experience with Houdini.
- Knowledge of photography principles and image correction techniques.
- Experience playing Call of Duty or similar FPS games
Responsibilities
- Responsible for creating game-play and in-game cinematic lighting based on direction from the Art Director
- Ensure that lighting assets meet runtime and disk budgeting requirements.
- Anticipate, identify, and report any potential production problems and communicate those to the Lead
- Work collaboratively with other departments: Character, VFX, and especially Environment Art
- Work independently and with other leads and directors to create an optimal lighting pipeline for the product
- Stay current with industry lighting techniques
- Work with Rendering engineers to push our engine further
- Creation of the sky dome and cloud assets
- Find creative ways to set industry standards
- Create workflows and best practices for the lighting team
- Mentor other Lighting artists, and help build an environment of creativity, trust and excellence
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others
- Relocation assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
