Artiste éclairagiste

About the role

The lighting artist designs and implements lighting and shading solutions that elevate 3D environments and CG elements in direct connection with the artistic vision of the project. They deliver final renders intended for composition while ensuring a high level of visual quality, technical optimization, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As a key actor in the 3D pipeline, they contribute to achieving the excellence standards that define Rodeo FX. This role requires mastery of lighting craftsmanship, creative translation of visual intent, and rigorous technical execution across complex production schedules. The position influences the look of high-profile content through precise, efficient, and collaborative workflows. Success in this role is measured by the quality, stability, and integration of the lighting solutions delivered each day. The artist is expected to act as a reliable partner for lighting, CG, and compositing teams throughout the production lifecycle.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Craft robust lighting setups tailored to the specific demands of each shot and sequence.
• Command Houdini lighting tools and workflows with precision and self-sufficiency at every production stage.
• Refine renders to achieve seamless integration with CG elements and downstream compositing processes.
• Engineer efficient solutions that overcome technical and artistic challenges without compromising artistic intent.
• Translate project visual intentions into inspiring and coherent lighting designs across every sequence.
• Partner closely with Lighting, CG, and Compositing Supervisors to elevate artistic direction through iterative feedback.
• Suggest visual adjustments that enhance narrative clarity and deepen the perceived dimensionality of each scene.
• Sustain a constant standard of realism, legibility, and subtlety in every final deliverable.
• Optimize scenes to reduce computational load while preserving visual quality and production timelines.
• Enforce studio naming conventions, scene organization, and versioning standards established by the department.
• Detect and correct render artifacts or inconsistencies before final submission to downstream teams.
• Actively participate in quality control passes and rapidly integrate feedback from daily reviews.
• Provide realistic estimates, escalate risks early, and collaborate with production to adjust priorities as needed.
• Track the progress of assigned shots and surface technical blockers to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Engage in team meetings, turnovers, and briefings to align individual work with evolving project needs.
• Serve as a dependable point of contact for other departments regarding the status and quality of lighting assets.
• Document useful setups and methodologies to support collaboration and enable smooth handoffs between artists.
• Monitor advances in CG lighting technology and integrate relevant techniques into the studio's production ecosystem.
• Share tools, scripts, and discoveries with the team through Confluence and technical dailies.
• Contribute to internal training initiatives and adopt new approaches that strengthen the studio's lighting capabilities.
• Demonstrate openness and agility in driving continuous improvement across artistic and technical practices.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of professional lighting experience in a VFX or 3D animation environment.
• Advanced mastery of Houdini, including lighting workflows, shading techniques, and scene optimization.
• Strong familiarity with rendering engines such as Arnold, RenderMan, Karma, or similar, and their integration within production pipelines.
• Solid understanding of 3D and 2D workflows, including modeling, look development, and compositing.
• Familiarity with USD, the Universal Scene Description format, and its practical application in production.
• Highly developed sense of lighting, color, and cinematic staging.
• Ability to work autonomously with rigor while remaining an integrated and supportive member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proactive, constructive, and solution-oriented attitude in all aspects of production.
• Prior experience with ShotGrid, Python scripting, or the development of internal tools is considered an asset.

Nice to have

• Previous experience working on high-profile VFX or animation productions at a major studio.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior artists and contribute to technical documentation.
• Knowledge of emerging real-time rendering workflows and their potential application in hybrid pipelines.

Practical notes

• Based in Montreal.
• Hybrid work model: employees are expected to work from the studio at least three days per week, with flexibility for the remainder of the schedule when aligned with role, production needs, and team organization.
• This role reports to a senior lighting supervisor and interacts closely with lighting, CG, and compositing leads.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in Canada without sponsorship, as the position is based in Montreal.
• Relocation support is not available for this role.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next steps in the selection process.