Lead Lighting Artist

Job Description

PXO creates industry-leading Virtual Production and Visual Effects for premium Film and Episodic content. With over 20 industry awards and nominations, PXO, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is a trusted partner for storytellers and showrunners worldwide.

PXO has been creating iconic work since 2001, from Martin Scorsese's Academy Award winning Hugo and HBO's Emmy winning Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, through to Amazon's The Boys, Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and many more.

We're looking for a skilled, Lead VFX Lighting Artist to join our team in Germany, This role is offered in a hybrid working capacity, however does require regular on-site attendance at either our Stuttgart or Frankfurt Studio. This presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity for you to contribute to cutting-edge projects and take the lead in guiding a team of talented professionals. Join us and bring your creativity to life!

Responsibilities:
• Lead and oversee the lighting / shading artists, ensuring the artistic and technical quality of all deliverables.
• Collaborate closely with the VFX Supervisor, Heads and Compositing team to establish the visual direction and achieve the desired look for each project.
• Develop and implement lighting and shading setups that enhance the mood, atmosphere, and realism of the scenes.
• Create and manage complex shading networks, including textures, materials, and procedural shaders.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless integration of lighting and shading elements within the pipeline.
• Ability to identify problematic shots that may affect delivery schedules and communicate concerns to leads and supervisors.
• Mentor and provide guidance to the lighting and shading team, fostering their growth and professional development.
• Stay up to date with the latest industry trends and techniques, and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of our workflows and processes.
• Maintain clear and open communication with the production team to ensure project milestones and deadlines are met.

Requirements:
• Minimum of 6 years of experience as a Lighting & Shading Artist in the visual effects industry.
• Extensive knowledge of lighting techniques, including global illumination, HDR environments, and physically based rendering.
• Proficient in industry-standard software such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and Arnold.
• Comfortable with Windows and/or Linux OS and experience with Shotgrid desirable.
• Strong understanding of composition, color theory and cinematography.
• Familiarity with scripting languages, such as Python, for automation and tool development.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and leadership skills to effectively collaborate with team members and provide guidance.
• Solid level of English language competence is necessary for this role.

Additional Requirements:

This position is located in Germany, based out of either our Frankfurt or Stuttgart studio.
Only applicants who are currently eligible to work in Germany can be considered for this position. Assistance with relocation expenses is not available for this position.

If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and possess the skills and leadership qualities required for this role, we invite you to apply by submitting your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rj0e3e-3-145-191-214-42 in your application.