We are creators of the hit survival-fantasy franchise State of Decay with a fan base of over 10 million players. As an independent member of Xbox Game Studios, we collaborate with a huge network of skilled specialists in all disciplines, providing incredible opportunities for joint development and learning.

The Undead Labs art team is looking for a senior lighting artist to bring their expertise to the next generation of State of Decay. Using Unreal 5 you will help us push the boundaries of our world’s lighting from concept to finished product. If you think that sounds awesome, we would love to hear from you.

At Undead Labs, we work in highly collaborative, cross-discipline teams because we understand that the best ideas are ones we generate together. We are humble and curious in our work and are always striving to make things better - for our players, for each other, and for our industry. Everyone here is committed to helping the team thrive, enabling us to rise to the moment to build incredible games.

Core Responsibilities & Objectives

Combine in-depth industry knowledge and artistic skill to execute the lighting needed for the open world of State Of Decay 3.
Work closely with the Art Director, Concept Artists, and key stakeholders to develop a cohesive look for the game and translate concepts into real-time lighting.
Develop and implement lighting and surfacing guidelines to achieve SoD3’s visual style.
Help plan, organize, and prioritize overall roadmap and lighting tasks with production.
Work with Technical Art and Engineering departments to solve technical challenges.

Core Traits & Experience

Proven and recurring success in a lighting role within game development.
Impressive lighting portfolio showcasing a beautiful mix of visual and technical skills.
Experience working with Unreal Engine, related tools, and current development practices.
Demonstrable understanding of contemporary lighting and surfacing methodologies including physically based rendering tools, exposure settings, shaders, and materials.
Learning mindset and curiosity for emerging tools and technologies.
Excellent communication, collaboration, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Intuitive understanding of lighting fundamentals, mood, composition, color theory, space, material, and light.
Proficient with post-process toolsets to enhance look and feel.

Bonus Traits & Experience

Unreal 5 + Lumen preferred.
Shipped at least 1 game or similar products as a lighter.
Love for the undead and the survival horror genre.
Background in photography, film, or cinematography.
Breadth in technical lighting concepts, tools, etc.
Open world lighting experience.
Ability to represent the lighting discipline in strategic long-term planning discussions.

Benefits & Perks

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Undead Labs and the state in which you work.

Medical, dental, and vision health insurance
Unlimited PTO and studio holiday closure in December
401k plan with 50% matching
Subsidized transportation to and from work
Professional growth resources
Discounts on the Microsoft Games store

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $120,000 - $155,000 per year.

The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role (except as noted below); the applicable base range will depend on various factors, such as complexity and responsibility of the role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.

At Undead Labs, certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases and an annual bonus. These awards are allocated based on individual performance. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with Undead Labs.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Close vision to monitors and screens, consistently working on computer equipment such as keyboards and monitors, long periods of sitting.
Noise levels are low to moderate in the work environment.

Undead Labs is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

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Senior Lighting Artist