Senior Lighting Artist job at Naughty Dog

Job Overview

• Company: Naughty Dog (a studio of Sony Interactive Entertainment )
• Job Title: Senior Lighting Artist (Cinematics)
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA
• Work Model: Hybrid / On-site
• Seniority Level: Senior
• Required Experience: 7+ Years in Games, Animation, or Film
• Salary Range: $143,700 – $160,000 USD (Base Pay)
• Reporting Structure: Lighting Lead / Art Director
• Industry: Video Game Development / Interactive Entertainment

Executive Summary

Naughty Dog, the world-renowned developer behind some of the most critically acclaimed franchises in gaming history, is seeking a visionary Senior Lighting Artist to join our elite Cinematics team. Located in Santa Monica, California, this role is a cornerstone of our storytelling process, responsible for the evocative, character-driven lighting that has become a hallmark of the Naughty Dog brand.

As we continue development on our latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet , we are looking for a veteran artist who can bridge the gap between technical innovation and cinematic artistry. The ideal candidate will possess a masterful understanding of light, color, and shadow, with the ability to translate conceptual art into breathtaking, real-time cinematic sequences. Joining Naughty Dog means becoming part of a legacy of excellence, pushing the PS5 and PC hardware to its absolute limits to create enduring experiences for a global audience.

Company Overview: The Naughty Dog Legacy

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been a pioneer in the interactive entertainment industry. We are defined by a relentless pursuit of perfection, crafting best-selling titles that redefine narrative depth and technical fidelity. From the harrowing journey of The Last of Us series to the globe-trotting adventures of Uncharted , our studio “kennel” is a place where the industry’s top creative and technical minds collaborate to create magic.

Our Culture and Vision:

• Innovation: We don’t just follow industry trends; we set them. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in real-time rendering and cinematic storytelling.

• Attention to Detail: We believe that the smallest nuances—a flicker of light, a speck of dust, the glint in a character’s eye—are what make a world feel alive.

• Diversity & Inclusion: We welcome candidates from all walks of life, believing that a broad range of cultural and life experiences is essential to creating stories that resonate globally.

• Current Frontier: Having successfully brought our flagship titles to the PS5 and PC, we are now focused on our new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet , expanding our horizons into new worlds.

Role Overview

The Senior Lighting Artist at Naughty Dog is much more than a technical executor; you are a digital cinematographer. Your role is to utilize light as a narrative tool, establishing the mood, atmosphere, and emotional weight of our cinematic sequences.

Working within our high-end proprietary engine, you will collaborate across departments to ensure that every frame of a cinematic sequence meets our “gold standard” of quality. You will be responsible for the high-level development of lighting schemes for both environments and complex characters, ensuring a seamless visual transition between gameplay and cutscenes. This role requires a veteran who can work with minimal direction, troubleshoot complex memory constraints, and provide a guiding light for external vendors and junior team members.

Key Responsibilities

Cinematic Artistry & Lighting Design

• Develop and implement sophisticated lighting schemes for characters and environments, working in close alignment with Directors and the Concept Art team to realize the project’s visual targets.

• Interpret color keys and concept art to recreate specific moods, utilizing direct and indirect light to tell a story through the environment.

• Maintain visual consistency and “The Naughty Dog Look” across vast, complex cinematic sequences.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Partner with the Level Lighting team to ensure that the transition from playable gameplay to cinematic sequences is visually fluid and grounded in the same world logic.

• Collaborate with VFX and Animation departments to ensure that particle effects and character performances are properly integrated with the lighting environment.

• Work with Programming and Technical Art to ensure cinematics run within strict memory budgets and performance targets without compromising the artistic vision.

Vendor & Pipeline Management

• Lead and collaborate with outsource vendors and internal lighting artists, providing high-level feedback on visual looks and technical implementation.

• Contribute to the evolution of Naughty Dog’s proprietary lighting tools, providing feedback on workflows and training newer team members on best practices.

• Manage time-sensitive projects under pressure, ensuring milestones are met for high-profile global releases.

Required Qualifications & Technical Skills

Professional Background

• Experience: A minimum of 7 years of professional experience within the video game, animation, or film/VFX industry.

• Proven Track Record: Candidates must have at least one shipped AAA game title or an equivalent high-end film/VFX credit.

• Portfolio: A world-class demo reel or portfolio demonstrating mastery of light, shadow, composition, and cinematic storytelling.

Core Technical Skills

• Software Mastery: Demonstrated expertise in Autodesk Maya .

• Post-Production & Grading: Proficiency in industry-standard color grading and compositing software such as Nuke, Fusion, or DaVinci Resolve .

• Artistic Fundamentals: An expert-level understanding of color theory, exposure, contrast, and the physical properties of shading/materials in relation to light.

• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to troubleshoot lighting artifacts, performance bottlenecks, and technical pipeline hurdles.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Autonomy: The ability to take a sequence from concept to final polish with minimal supervision.

• Organizational Excellence: Exceptional time management skills and the ability to organize complex lighting hierarchies within a proprietary engine.

• Adaptability: The capacity to maintain high-quality standards under the pressure of tight production deadlines.

Bonus Skills (Optional)

• Hands-on experience with Real-Time Engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary AAA engines).

• Proficiency in generating light-maps , pre-lighting, or baked lighting solutions.

• Technical scripting ability (Python, C#, etc.) to help automate or optimize lighting workflows.

Benefits and Perks

Naughty Dog , as part of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), offers a premier benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our “Dogs”:

• Competitive Compensation: An estimated base pay range of $143,700 – $160,000 USD , plus potential bonus eligibility.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, alongside a dedicated wellness program.

• Retirement: 401(k) with company matching to help secure your future.

• Time Off: Generous paid time off and holiday schedules.

• Sony Perks: Coveted employee discounts on Sony products and PlayStation hardware/software.

• Professional Growth: Work in a “hybrid” environment in Santa Monica, one of the primary hubs of global entertainment and technology.

Application Process

To apply for this position, please submit the following through our official careers portal:

1. Resume: Detailing your years of experience, shipped titles, and software expertise.

2. Portfolio/Demo Reel: This is the most critical component of your application. Ensure your reel highlights your cinematic lighting work, including breakdowns of light layers where possible.

3. Art Test: Please note that candidates who pass the initial screening may be asked to complete a lighting art test using specific assets to demonstrate their aesthetic and technical approach.

Privacy & Background Checks: Please note that Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage. For more information on how we process your data, please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice.

Naughty Dog is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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