Lead Lighting Artist

CD PROJEKT RED•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Lead Lighting Artist to join our studio in Boston to work on Cyberpunk 2, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise. In this role you will bring your expertise, leadership skills, attention to detail, and passion for telling stories through cinematic and emotionally engaging lighting to build and lead a team of exceptional lighting artists.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of experience in the video games industry, including at least one shipped AAA title.
Proven experience as a Lead Lighting Artist, with a track record of mentoring and developing talent.
Deep knowledge of performance and optimization for real-time lighting.
Solid understanding of PBR concepts and real-time rendering techniques.
Excellent knowledge of Unreal Engine 5.
A portfolio that demonstrates a deep knowledge of core artistic principles such as color theory and composition, as well as the ability to convey emotion and tell stories through light.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
Curiosity, kindness, initiative, and a positive and professional can-do attitude.

Responsibilities

Lead the Lighting Team to deliver high-quality, emotionally engaging cinematic lighting.
Act as the direct manager for team members, conducting reviews and establishing deliverables while keeping the team motivated, inspired, and productive.
Recruiting, leading, mentoring, and guiding the team while fostering a culture of creativity, trust, and technical excellence.
Partner with Directors and Production to strategically plan and estimate work, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
Tracking the progress of assigned lighting tasks and communicating any blockers the team may have.
Collaborate closely with the Art Director to maintain the art direction and the core vision of the game.
Actively participate in aesthetic problem solving discussions.
Collaborate across multiple disciplines to support gameplay, cinematics, and environments with outstanding lighting.
Ensure that lighting solutions produced by the team are performant and within technical budgets.
Lead by example by taking direct ownership over some of the lighting tasks.
Lead the development of the Lighting pipeline to deliver a comfortable, streamlined, and efficient workflow for the team.
Actively participate in technical problem solving discussions.
Collaborate with technical disciplines to help develop tools and tech that optimize the lighting workflow and push the boundaries of real-time lighting.

Benefits

Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
Paid leave — 20 days of holiday per year (26 days after two years).
401K with employer matching.
Gym Membership Reimbursement.
Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
RED Parents Network — support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.
Flexible working hours.
Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.
Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working!
Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.