Lighthouse Games is seeking Senior Material Artist, UK

Lighthouse Games is currently seeking a visionary Senior Material Artist to join our founding team in Royal Leamington Spa. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a new, AAA studio defined by a pedigree of industry-leading talent and an unyielding ambition to set a new benchmark for visual fidelity in gaming. Working on a ground-breaking new IP within the Unreal Engine ecosystem, you will be the bridge between technical excellence and artistic beauty. You will not just be making textures; you will be defining the physical soul of a brand-new world.

Job Overview:

• Location: Royal Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Work Model: Hybrid
• Salary Range: Competitive / Discretionary (Commensurate with AAA Senior Experience)
• Project Type: Unannounced AAA New IP
• Engine Focus: Unreal Engine 5+

Detailed Job Description & Studio Vision

At Lighthouse Games, we believe that “best-in-class” isn’t a goal—it’s our starting point. Located in the heart of the UK’s “Silicon Spa,” our studio is built on the philosophy that great games are the result of empowered talent working in a collaborative, supportive environment.

As a Senior Material Artist, you are more than a contributor; you are a specialist leader. You will work at the intersection of the Environment, Foliage, Scanning, and Vehicle teams to ensure that every surface—from the microscopic grain of a weathered rock to the high‑gloss finish of a performance vehicle—tells a story. You will be supported by a dedicated team of Technical Artists and Scanning Artists, giving you access to high‑end photogrammetry data and the latest rendering technologies to push the boundaries of what is possible in real‑time.

Your primary focus will be the development of high‑quality, PBR‑compliant materials. You will ensure that all assets meet the rigorous standards of a modern AAA title. This involves a deep understanding of light interaction, surface roughness, and albedo accuracy. You will leverage node‑based workflows to create dynamic, layered materials that respond realistically to the game’s lighting environment.

A Senior Material Artist at Lighthouse doesn’t work in a vacuum. You will act as a consultant and collaborator for:

• Environment & Foliage: Authoring shaders that handle wind, moisture, and seasonal changes.
• Scanning Artists: Processing raw photogrammetry data into game‑ready, tiling materials.
• Vehicle & Character Teams: Creating specialized shaders for paint, fabric, skin, and metal.

Efficiency is the backbone of AAA development. You will be responsible for defining and documenting the material creation pipeline. This includes:

• Establishing clear parameters and workflows for the wider art team.
• Standardizing naming conventions and folder structures.
• Creating “Master Materials” in Unreal Engine that allow for flexible, instance‑based workflows, reducing the overhead for junior and mid‑level artists.

Technical Innovation

Working alongside Render Engineers and Technical Artists, you will help define the requirements for new material shaders. You will stay at the forefront of industry trends, investigating new tools and techniques (such as neural texture compression or advanced displacement methods) to increase both visual quality and team productivity.

Candidate Requirements

To excel in this role, you must possess a blend of high‑level artistic taste and technical discipline. We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• AAA Experience: A proven track record of creating realistic PBR materials for high‑profile, shipped video games.
• Unreal Engine Mastery: Expert‑level knowledge of the Unreal Engine Material Editor. You should be comfortable with complex math within shaders and optimizing instruction counts without sacrificing visual quality.
• Software Proficiency: Beyond Unreal, you should be an expert in the industry‑standard “Substance Suite” (Designer and Painter) and have strong experience with 3D authoring tools like 3ds Max, Blender, or Maya.
• Analytical Mindset: The ability to deconstruct real‑world surfaces into their constituent parts and replicate them digitally.
• Organizational Excellence: AAA development is a massive machine; you must have disciplined work habits and the ability to manage your time effectively within a hybrid team structure.

While not mandatory, we highly value candidates who bring “extra” to the table. These skills will help you integrate more deeply with our specific project needs:

• Photogrammetry Knowledge: Experience with reality capture software and the photography techniques required to capture high‑bitrate surface data.
• Natural Sciences: A fundamental interest or education in geology (how rocks form and weather), dendrology (the study of trees/wood), or architecture (building materials and structural integrity).
• Motorsport Passion: Given the nature of our project, an interest in the materials, finishes, and engineering of motorsports is a significant plus.

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days of holiday per year.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Studio Shutdown: A full studio closure between Christmas and New Year, allowing you to recharge with family and friends without using your holiday entitlement.
• Discretionary Bonus: A scheme designed to reward the hard work and success of the team.
• Private Pension: A competitive scheme to help you plan for the future.
• Private Healthcare: Full medical coverage for peace of mind.
• Dental & Optical: Comprehensive care including regular check‑ups and treatments.
• Mental Health Support: Access to professional resources and a culture that prioritises psychological safety.
• Well‑being Benefits: Various initiatives aimed at keeping our team healthy, both physically and mentally.

The Lighthouse Culture

Joining Lighthouse Games means more than just a new job title. It means joining a community of creators in Royal Leamington Spa, a historic town famous for its beautiful parks, stunning architecture, and its status as a global hub for game development. Our Hybrid Working model offers the best of both worlds: the focused, collaborative energy of a world‑class studio space and the flexibility to manage your personal life through remote work days. We are building a studio where your voice is heard, your craft is respected, and your career growth is a priority. Lighthouse Games is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.