At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of stunning real-time lighting for games using Unreal Engine 5.
- Company: Join a passionate team behind the award-winning Mafia franchise.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and storytelling.
- Why this job: Shape the future of narrative-driven games with your artistic vision and technical skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in lighting for games and expertise in Unreal Engine 5.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Who We Are
Home to the award-winning Mafia franchise, our team is united by a passion for rich narrative storytelling, cinematic presentation, and AAA craft. We're looking for creative minds and driven professionals who share our love of story, style, and adventure. If you're ready to help shape the next generation of narrative-driven games, we'd love to hear from you.
Job Summary
We are looking for a Lead Lighting Artist to help shape and deliver world-class real-time lighting across gameplay, cinematics, and key marketing assets. This role sits at the intersection of creativity and technical expertise, using Unreal Engine 5 to create lighting that enhances atmosphere, storytelling, and player experience while meeting performance goals. Reporting to the Art Director, the Lead Lighting Artist will work closely with Engineering and the other Art Disciplines, playing a key role in defining lighting solutions that are both visually ambitious and technically robust.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Drive Lighting Quality & Vision
- Help define and execute the lighting vision in alignment with the game’s art direction.
- Set and maintain lighting standards and best practices to ensure a consistent, high-quality visual bar.
- Create lighting that supports mood, composition, readability, and emotional impact across a wide range of content.
- Gameplay, Cinematic & Marketing Lighting
- Lead lighting for real-time gameplay and in-engine cinematics, ensuring a cohesive visual experience.
- Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team on the creation of high-end marketing and promotional assets, contributing ideas and helping deliver polished, visually striking results.
- Adapt lighting solutions to work effectively across gameplay and cinematics.
- Unreal Engine 5 Leadership
- Act as a go-to expert for UE5 lighting, with hands-on experience using systems such as Lumen, Virtual Shadow Maps, exposure, and post-processing.
- Use UE5’s lighting capabilities to push visual quality while maintaining performance and stability.
- Partner with Technical Art and Engineering to explore new features and improve lighting workflows.
- Technical Collaboration & Performance
- Build strong working relationships with Engineering teams to develop and refine lighting solutions.
- Take ownership of lighting performance, identifying potential issues early and helping guide effective solutions.
- Contribute to the ongoing improvement of lighting pipelines, tools, and debugging processes.
- Lead, Support & Mentor
- Provide clear artistic and technical guidance to lighting artists through reviews, feedback, and hands-on support.
- Help plan and scope lighting work, identify dependencies, and support the team in hitting quality and production goals.
- Be an active advocate for lighting quality and consistency throughout development.
Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience
- Lighting & Unreal Engine Expertise
- A strong portfolio showcasing high-quality real-time lighting in Unreal Engine, including gameplay, cinematics, and marketing assets.
- Experience in a Lead Lighting Artist role on shipped titles.
- Deep hands-on experience lighting complex scenes using UE5.
- Creative & Technical Balance
- Excellent understanding of lighting fundamentals such as color, contrast, exposure, composition, and mood.
- Strong technical awareness of real-time rendering constraints, profiling, and optimization.
- Strong understanding of grading and colour pipelines, from content creation through in-engine rendering and final output.
- UE5 Savvy
- Deep, practical knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 lighting systems and workflows.
- Comfortable working closely with engineers to balance artistic goals with technical realities.
- HDR Sky Capture & Real-World Reference
- Previous experience capturing, processing, and implementing HDR skies / sky domes.
- A solid understanding of physically based lighting and real-world lighting reference.
- Collaboration & Communication
- Clear communicator who can explain lighting intent to both artistic and technical audiences.
- Enjoys collaborating, sharing ideas, and helping elevate the work of the team.
Lead Lighting Artist — UE5 Cinematics & Real-Time Lighting in Brighton employer: Mundo Gamer Network
Join a dynamic team at the forefront of narrative-driven gaming, where creativity meets technical excellence. As a Lead Lighting Artist, you'll thrive in a collaborative environment that values innovation and artistic vision, with ample opportunities for professional growth and mentorship. Located in a vibrant city known for its rich cultural scene, we offer a supportive work culture that encourages passion and creativity, making it an ideal place for talented individuals to shape the future of gaming.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Lighting Artist — UE5 Cinematics & Real-Time Lighting in Brighton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best lighting work in Unreal Engine 5. Make it easy for potential employers to see what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your approach! When you find a job that excites you, customise your pitch to show how your experience aligns with their vision and needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love hearing from passionate candidates like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Lighting Artist — UE5 Cinematics & Real-Time Lighting in Brighton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Make sure to include a strong portfolio that highlights your best real-time lighting work in Unreal Engine. We want to see your creativity and technical skills shine through, so pick pieces that really showcase your ability to enhance atmosphere and storytelling.
Tailor Your Application:When applying, tailor your application to reflect our passion for narrative-driven games. Use language from the job description to show us you understand what we're looking for and how you can contribute to our vision.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:Since this role involves working closely with various teams, make sure to highlight your collaboration and communication skills. Share examples of how you've worked with artists and engineers to achieve a cohesive visual experience.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mundo Gamer Network
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a strong portfolio that highlights your best work in real-time lighting using Unreal Engine 5. Focus on showcasing a variety of projects, including gameplay, cinematics, and marketing assets, to demonstrate your versatility and expertise.
✨Understand the Game's Art Direction
Before the interview, research the company's previous titles and their art styles. Be prepared to discuss how you can align your lighting vision with their existing art direction and contribute to the overall narrative and emotional impact of their games.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Brush up on your knowledge of UE5 lighting systems, including Lumen and Virtual Shadow Maps. Expect technical questions about performance optimisation and rendering constraints, so be ready to discuss how you've tackled these challenges in past projects.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working closely with cross-disciplinary teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with artists and engineers in the past. Highlight your communication skills and your ability to bridge the gap between artistic intent and technical execution.
