Lead Lighting Artist

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Lead Lighting Artist to join our studio in Boston to work on Cyberpunk 2, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise. In this role you will bring your expertise, leadership skills, attention to detail, and passion for telling stories through cinematic and emotionally engaging lighting to build and lead a team of exceptional lighting artists.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead the Lighting Team to deliver high-quality, emotionally engaging cinematic lighting.
• Act as the direct manager for team members, conducting reviews and establishing deliverables while keeping the team motivated, inspired, and productive.
• Recruiting, leading, mentoring, and guiding the team while fostering a culture of creativity, trust, and technical excellence.
• Partner with Directors and Production to strategically plan and estimate work, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Tracking the progress of assigned lighting tasks and communicating any blockers the team may have.

Artistic Vision & Execution

• Collaborate closely with the Art Director to maintain the art direction and the core vision of the game.
• Actively participate in aesthetic problem solving discussions.
• Collaborate across multiple disciplines to support gameplay, cinematics, and environments with outstanding lighting.
• Ensure that lighting solutions produced by the team are performant and within technical budgets.
• Lead by example by taking direct ownership over some of the lighting tasks.

Pipeline Development & Technical Problem Solving

• Lead the development of the Lighting pipeline to deliver a comfortable, streamlined, and efficient workflow for the team.
• Actively participate in technical problem solving discussions.
• Collaborate with technical disciplines to help develop tools and tech that optimize the lighting workflow and push the boundaries of real-time lighting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in the video games industry, including at least one shipped AAA title.
• Proven experience as a Lead Lighting Artist, with a track record of mentoring and developing talent.
• Deep knowledge of performance and optimization for real-time lighting.
• Solid understanding of PBR concepts and real-time rendering techniques.
• Excellent knowledge of Unreal Engine 5.
• A portfolio that demonstrates a deep knowledge of core artistic principles such as color theory and composition, as well as the ability to convey emotion and tell stories through light.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
• Curiosity, kindness, initiative, and a positive and professional can-do attitude.

Additional Information

The application window for this position will close by 04/30/2026.

This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.

Remote roles in the US are only available to candidates that reside in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

Health & Well-Being

• Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
• Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
• Paid leave — 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year.
• 401K with employer matching.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) – $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
• Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
• RED Parents Network — support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Flexible working hours.
• Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

• Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.

This position is a new role.

Estimated pay range for this position: $143,000 - $218,500 USD annually

At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on

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