Lead Lighting Artist

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Lead Lighting Artist to join our new game development studio, Skeleton Key, located in Austin, TX. As the Lead Lighting Artist, you will play a crucial role in crafting atmospheric environments and cinematics, elevating gameplay and narrative moments for the player. Reporting to the Art Director, you will collaborate with the Environment Art and Level Design teams to ensure the best environmental storytelling and gameplay experience. Additionally, you will establish the quality, style, and pipelines for lighting and environment art within the studio. With 5+ years of experience in AAA digital game development and a strong portfolio showcasing technical and artistic execution of lighting environments and characters, you will bring valuable expertise to our team.

• Help deliver a high-quality lighting experience in cinematics, gameplay, and environments to carry-out the vision of the Art, Creative, and Cinematic Directors.
• Work with Environment Art and Level Design team to ensure active collaboration and iteration to bring about the best environmental story-telling and gameplay experience possible.
• Identify and communicate the requirements of your team to Technical Art and Engineering teams for tools, workflows, and pipelines.
• Find artistic solutions which balance creative vision with production budget, timeline, and scope realities.
• Review both internal and external artists’ work and give feedback to ensure the highest quality expectations are met.
• Work with Engineering and Tech Art to establish performance metrics which ensure artistic goals are met within technical performance targets.
• Keep informed about the latest advances in game art technique and technology.
• Be an active mentor, leader and role model for the art team.
• Work to maintain morale and build an atmosphere of creativity and passion.
• Be actively involved with recruitment, vetting candidates, performing interviews.

• 5+ yrs experience in AAA digital game development as a Lead, Senior, or Principal Lighting Artist
• A portfolio that demonstrates a breadth of both technical and artistic execution of lighting environments and characters
• Communication skills and knowledge to both effectively give and receive creative and artistic critique
• Understanding of fundamental art theory including principles of color, light, composition and anatomy
• Experience using real-time engines such as Unreal or Unity
• Solid understanding of PBR workflows and how they impact lighting
• Proven experience with lighting techniques, real-time and pre-rendered
• Knowledge of art assets optimization for games
• Experience with HD

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Paid Vacation Time & Holidays
• Generous 401(k) match
• Paid Parental Leave
• Volunteer Program
• Employee Giving & Matching Gifts Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Product Discounts