Principal Lighting Artist - Echtra Games

Zynga • Austin, TX

303d • $100,700 - $149,060 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Principal Lighting Artist to join our growing team and help craft Echtra's next AAA PC and Console ARPG. As Lead Lighting Artist this individual will be responsible for managing overall level lighting and environment ambiance, mood, and background artwork, while also driving specific cinematic story-beat moments. They will also be responsible for unifying and last-mile tuning of the lighting delivered by our Environment Artists and Level Designers, as well as pre-lighting the many props that will be placed in the world. Clear gameplay pathing driven by lighting is important, and will be a major component of the job. Echtra Games is a medium sized and growing game studio in San Francisco with a team of veteran game developers and visionary engineers who work both on-site and remotely. At Echtra, we value diversity and support work-life balance. We also have great benefits, an open vacation policy, and flexible schedules!

Requirements

• 5+ years experience as a Lighting Artist in game, film, or CG industry
• Experience with Unreal 5+ or similar technology preferred
• A strong portfolio that demonstrates experience lighting environments and characters for AAA games
• Intuitive understanding of lighting fundamentals, mood, position, color theory, space, material, and light
• Comfortable taking on responsibility for the development of complex lighting solutions and guiding the team to consistently achieve the quality bar
• Strong experience with Post-processing and color correction
• Good communication skills, positive attitude, and great work ethic
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative team environment
• Proficient with post-process and color-correction toolsets to enhance look and feel

Nice To Haves

• Experience with cinematic rendering
• Demonstrates passion and talent for games and game development
• Understanding of contemporary lighting and surfacing methodologies, including physically based rendering tools, exposure settings, shaders, and materials

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the visual quality and mood for game environments, characters, and cinematics
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Level Designers, and Environment Artists to achieve the artistic vision consistently and in a performant manner across the game.
• Participate in planning of lighting needs and goals
• Work with TAs and Engineers to enhance tools and workflows to maximize efficiency
• Provide leadership to Lighters in career development, performance, and goals and priorities.

Benefits

• World-class benefits package
• Open vacation policy
• Flexible schedules

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Publishing Industries