Lighting Artist, Cinematic Contingent

Overview

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

This is a hybrid / onsite position.

Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games for nearly 40 years. We recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered and a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. The Last of Us Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. We’re also busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic:
The Heretic Prophet, and we’d love to find talented individuals to join us.

Naughty Dog games are lauded for evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation and have curated 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 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 use our proprietary lighting tools to achieve captivating lighting for characters and environments. As part of the Naughty Dog legacy, you’ll contribute to continuing the development of extraordinary experiences for a broad, global audience.

• Develop lighting schemes for characters and environments working closely with Directors and the Concept Art team.
• Collaborate with the Level Lighting team to establish smooth integration of in-game cinema tics with gameplay.
• Collaborate with multiple departments to ensure cinema tics run within memory budgets without sacrificing look.
• Work with outsource vendors and lighting artists, collaborating on visual looks, tech, training, and workflows with feedback exchange.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in Games or Animation/VFX/Film
• Has shipped a AAA game or equivalent
• Excellent understanding of direct/indirect light, color theory, exposure, contrast
• Outstanding understanding of shading/materials and the relationship with lighting
• Excellent artistic skills to interpret concept art and color keys to recreate mood and atmosphere
• Demonstrated expertise in Autodesk Maya
• Excellent understanding of color grading with proficiency in Nuke, Fusion, Resolve
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Ability to work with minimal direction
• Ability to work under pressure on time-sensitive projects

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

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

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At Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), base pay ranges are set with market data and geographic location in mind. The base pay range may vary with hybrid work policy and individual factors such as knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

This role is eligible for SIE’s benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off, wellness programs, and employee discounts for Sony products. A bonus package may be offered where applicable. The estimated base pay range is $57.98 — $72 USD.

Note:

Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees and may include criminal background checks for some roles. Personal information may be processed to support these checks. Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about data collection and rights.