About the role
Mission
Raven Software is seeking a highly capable, motivated Lead Lighting Artist to play a key role on the team, partner across disciplines, and shape compelling lighting for real-time gameplay and cinematics. The role involves leading a world-class team of Lighting Artists to solve technical and creative challenges and deliver industry-leading lighting for the Call of Duty franchise. The position is based in the Middleton, WI office and follows an onsite work schedule of four days per week.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the Art Director to bring life, mood, and visual clarity to gameplay and cinematics.
- Lead a team to craft and implement compelling real-time lighting that supports gameplay needs and artistic goals with strong composition, tone, and color.
- Drive visual and technical quality to deliver cutting-edge, AAA-worthy lighting.
- Direct and employ volumetrics, color grading, and image effects to achieve desired visual and narrative objectives.
- Prototype lighting approaches, post-processing setups, and improve workflows to achieve the desired tone and gameplay needs.
- Spearhead lighting R&D efforts, partnering with experts within and across disciplines to streamline tools and processes while championing best practices and strong visual quality.
- Take high-level direction and guide the team through day-to-day execution, iteration, and feedback on lighting tasks and initiatives.
- Partner with artists, designers, and programmers to be a trusted champion of performance, efficiency, and quality.
- Inspire and mentor others as a role model of initiative, accountability, and attitude.
- Foster a thriving team with open communication, constructive feedback, and development opportunities.
- Hold a high bar for quality, execution, and accountability while fostering artist growth.
- Collaborate with Production to plan team goals, forecast milestone deliveries, and identify resource needs.
- Clearly communicate risks, mitigations, and updates while maintaining effective working relationships across the studio.
Player Profile
- 8+ total years of Lighting experience, with 2+ years in a Lead role, in real-time game development or equivalent experience in film/television.
- Lead by example with a passionate and egoless attitude that welcomes feedback and enjoys a collaborative, iterative, fast-moving and adaptive workflow.
- Ability to quickly learn new software and adapt to proprietary tools.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
- Expert experience with game development engines and lighting tools (Unreal, Unity, or equivalent proprietary engines).
- Strong experience with baked lighting, dynamic lighting, light probes, reflection probes, post-processing, color grading, and image adjustment tools.
- Strong understanding and application of PBR workflows, physically correct lighting solutions, color theory, post-processing techniques, and industry lighting trends.
- An inspiring reel demonstrating strong, realistic lighting, modern development workflows, and creative solutions to development challenges.
Extra Points
- Experience working with the Call of Duty tools or other proprietary engines.
- Experience in a secondary area such as environments, animation, or VFX.
- Experience with basic scripting.
- Experience with procedural workflows and tools.
- Experience with compositing.
- Familiarity with performance optimization for console and PC.
- Passion for the Call of Duty franchise.
- Strong traditional art foundation.
Compensation and Benefits
- Base Pay Range: $99,200.00 - $183,520.00 Annual.
- Incentive Compensation: Employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation (not guaranteed).
- Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account.
- Healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts.
- Life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance.
- 401(k) with Company match.
- Tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching.
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays.
- Compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave.
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs.
- Free and discounted games.
- Variety of voluntary benefit programs (supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, etc.).
- Relocation assistance (if the Company requires a move).
Company Information
Raven Software is a studio focused on fostering innovation and owning mistakes to create unforgettable games. The studio is rooted in a culture of respect, collaboration, and a shared focus on the game. It is located in Middleton, a suburb of Madison, WI. The studio is part of Activision, a global leader in interactive entertainment, recognized as one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies To Work For and known for franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo.