Gaming Contract Hybrid

Lighting Artist, Environment

Company: Naughty Dog

Location: Santa Monica, California, United States

Job Type: Contract

Salary: $57.98 – $72.45 USD / Hour

About the Role

Naughty Dog is hiring a Lighting Artist, Environment to support the creation of visually compelling and immersive game worlds for its acclaimed AAA projects. This temporary opportunity is offered through Yoh Enterprise Solutions and focuses on enhancing the visual atmosphere of game environments through advanced lighting techniques.

The role is ideal for artists passionate about cinematic lighting, color composition, and real-time game visuals while collaborating with world-class creative and technical teams.

Job Overview

The Lighting Artist will develop lighting setups, mood, and post-processing effects that bring 3D game environments to life. Working closely with modelers, texture artists, and external vendors, the artist will help achieve both artistic excellence and optimized runtime performance.

This role requires strong technical knowledge of lighting workflows, environmental storytelling, and modern game production pipelines using Autodesk Maya and related technologies.

Key Responsibilities

  • Environment Lighting: Design and implement lighting schemes, color palettes, and visual moods for 3D game environments.
  • Post-Processing: Create and refine post-processing effects that support cinematic visual presentation.
  • Optimization: Collaborate with environment artists and shader specialists to improve performance and visual quality.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Coordinate with outsourcing partners and fellow lighting artists on workflows, technical guidance, and feedback.
  • Technical Execution: Produce light maps, baked lighting solutions, and polished environmental lighting setups.
  • Creative Support: Contribute to maintaining the artistic vision and visual consistency across projects.

Qualifications

  • 1–3 years of professional experience in game or film lighting production.
  • Experience contributing to at least one shipped AAA game project.
  • Strong proficiency with Autodesk Maya and lighting workflows.
  • Deep understanding of direct and indirect lighting, exposure, and color theory.
  • Experience with light mapping, baked lighting, or pre-lighting workflows is preferred.

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Game Art, Visual Effects, or a related field preferred.
  • Equivalent production experience in games or film may be considered.
  • Strong portfolio or demo reel showcasing environment lighting work is required.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage eligibility.
  • Opportunity to work on critically acclaimed AAA game titles.
  • Collaborative studio culture with highly experienced development teams.
  • Exposure to advanced cinematic and gameplay lighting pipelines.

Naughty Dog offers artists the opportunity to contribute to some of the most respected and visually advanced games in the industry. This role is ideal for lighting artists looking to strengthen their AAA game production experience in a collaborative environment.

If you are passionate about cinematic game lighting and immersive visual storytelling, apply now to join the Naughty Dog team.

Apply Now

You will be redirected to the employer's website.

Scroll to Top