Lead Lighting Artist

2K•Novato, CA

4h•$150,400 - $180,000

About The Position

As a Lead Lighting Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will help shape the visual narrative and atmosphere of the BioShock world by creating visually compelling, dynamic lighting for real-time environments and cinematics. You will lead and develop a high-performing lighting team, setting expectations, coaching direct reports, and managing team health, career growth, and output. You will establish lighting standards, best practices, pipelines, and workflows while supporting the project's visual direction and technical requirements. The role works closely with the Art Director, other art leads, Core Tech, Production and scheduling teams, and other art groups. You will address pipeline issues and roadblocks, research and implement lighting techniques and technologies, monitor progress and optimization, communicate updates to stakeholders, and adjust priorities as needed. The team works across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio to deliver a world-class AAA experience.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in real-time lighting and final rendering.
A proven track record as an Art Lead on at least one shipped AAA title.
Deep understanding of Physically Based Rendering (PBR), runtime optimization, and lighting for in-game cinematics.
Practical expertise with Unreal Engine 5, specifically Lumen Lighting and Sequencer.
Demonstrated success recruiting, developing, mentoring, and retaining artistic talent while managing workload output and team well-being.
Proven experience collaborating directly with Core Tech and Production teams to establish and optimize real-time pipelines under runtime constraints.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas to diverse audiences and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams.
Ability to remain effective and maintain quality under pressure, ambiguity, and changing priorities.
Ability to listen actively, build trust-based relationships across organizational levels, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
Openness to feedback and direction, willingness to learn new skills, and ability to produce quick, high-quality revisions.
Strong ownership, autonomy, attention to detail, organization, and commitment to high-quality work.

Responsibilities

Lead, guide, mentor, and provide feedback to a team of lighting artists to ensure high-quality results.
Set clear expectations and manage direct reports' performance, workload output, health, and career growth.
Establish team best practices and standards that support productivity, quality, and excellence.
Foster a positive, proactive, agile, innovative, and collaborative work environment.
Collaborate with the Art Director and other leads to understand and uphold the visual style and lighting direction.
Develop and maintain consistent, efficient lighting pipelines and workflows; act as the primary point of contact for pipeline issues and proactively resolve problems and roadblocks.
Research and implement new lighting techniques and technologies for continuous development and improvement.
Work with the Core Tech Team to meet technical specifications and real-time rendering optimization requirements.
Collaborate with Production and scheduling teams to define realistic timelines and manage project priorities.
Coordinate with other art department groups to achieve cohesive visual results.
Monitor project progress, identify opportunities for improvement and optimization, update cross-functional stakeholders, and adjust priorities as needed.
Receive and apply constructive feedback throughout the iterative process while maintaining a positive attitude.

Benefits

Eligibility to participate in the Company's 401(k) plan.
Eligibility to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage.
14 paid holidays per calendar year.
Paid vacation time of 15 to 25 days per calendar year or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program.
Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year.
Paid parental and compassionate leave.
Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support.
Family planning support through Maven.
Commuter benefits.
Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
The total compensation package may include a bonus and/or equity awards.