Cinematic Lighting Artist (Temporary Assignment) 

This position is for a temporary engagement through our staffing partner, DZConneX.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

Summary:

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. We’ve been busy at the Kennel, most recently releasing The Last of Us Part I, a complete and faithful remake of the original game, rebuilt from the ground up and fully optimized for the PlayStation 5 and currently in development for PC. As a part of the Naughty Dog legacy, you’ll be continuing the development of extraordinary and enduring experiences for a broad, global range of audiences.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

As a Cinematic Lighting Artist, you will collaborate with concept artists, animators, VFX artists and fellow lighters to create visually spectacular and engaging cinematic sequences. You will be using our proprietary lighting tools to achieve captivating lighting schemes for characters and environments. As a part of the Naughty Dog legacy, you’ll become a part of continuing the development of extraordinary and enduring experiences for a broad, global range of audiences.

Responsibilities:

• Develop lighting schemes for characters and environment with guidance from Leads, Directors and the Concept Art team
• Collaborate with the Level Lighting team to assist smooth integration of in-game cinematics with gameplay
• Collaborate with multiple departments to help ensure that the in-game cinematics run within the memory budget without sacrificing the look
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Requirements & Skills:

• At least one year of industry experience in Games or Animation/VFX/Film
• General understanding of direct/indirect light, color-theory, exposure, contrast
• General understanding of shading/materials and the relationship with lighting
• Strong artistic skills to interpret concept art and color keys to recreate the mood and atmosphere in a game environment
• General competency in industry standard software such as Autodesk Maya
• General understanding of color grading with proficiency in industry standard software such as Nuke, Fusion, Resolve
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to details
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Able to proactively identify and prioritize tasks that need to be accomplished
• The ability to work under pressure while completing time-sensitive projects

Bonus Skills:

• Experience with real time engines
• Experience with generating light-maps, pre-lighting or baked lighting

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an art test.

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

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