Lighting Artist – Contract

ArenaNet

. Light large-scale game environments in Unreal Engine 5, establishing mood, readability, and visual hierarchy across a full day/night cycle .

Posted 9/24/2026contractBellevue • Washington • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $43 - $61 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in real-time lighting within Unreal Engine 5, with a strong focus on outdoor environments, color theory, and atmospheric effects. Capable of taking levels from blockout to polished lighting while collaborating effectively with cross-disciplinary teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Unreal Engine 5 LightingOutdoor Lighting ExpertisePBR and Color TheoryAtmospheric Effects CreationSkybox Asset Development

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Real-Time LightingLighting OptimizationMaterial CreationLight FunctionsSkybox CreationFog and Haze EffectsColor GradingComposition UnderstandingExposure Management3D Asset Integration

Soft Skills

CollaborationFeedback IncorporationAttention to Detail

Tools & Technologies

Unreal Engine 5BlenderHoudiniTerragen

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree

Industry Keywords

Game DevelopmentVisual HierarchyDay/Night CycleCohesive Outdoor EnvironmentsPhotographic Lighting

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Unreal Engine

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Light large-scale game environments in Unreal Engine 5, establishing mood, readability, and visual hierarchy across a full day/night cycle
Own lighting for assigned levels from initial blockout through final polish
Create and integrate sky art for dynamic time-of-day systems
Balance lighting, atmosphere, color, and exposure for cohesive outdoor environments
Use color, value, contrast, and composition to guide the player’s eye and reinforce emotional tone
Create and work with fog, haze, scattering, clouds, and other atmospheric effects
Create materials and light functions within Unreal Engine
Collaborate with senior artists, art leads, and other disciplines while incorporating feedback
Optimize lighting and related systems for visual quality and performance
Create skybox assets including clouds and celestial bodies

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
3+ years of professional experience in real-time lighting
Hands-on experience working in Unreal Engine 5
Exceptional eye for outdoor lighting for landscapes and natural environments
Portfolio demonstrating outdoor lighting ability
Understanding of exposure, composition, and real-world light from a photographic standpoint
Ability to own and take a level from blockout to polished lighting
Strong grasp of PBR, color theory, value relationships, and color grading using Unreal Engine 5 toolset
Solid understanding of atmospherics, including fog, haze, and scattering
Experience creating materials and light functions in Unreal
Experience creating skyboxes in Unreal using 2D and 3D assets
Experience creating skybox assets such as clouds and celestial bodies using a third-party DCC such as Blender, Houdini, or Terragen
Authorization to work in the United States
Experience with painting, photography, or cinematography (nice to have)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Flexible/dependent care accounts
Overtime pay when applicable
Remote-friendly work arrangement
Occasional onsite collaboration