Lead Lighting Artist

As a Lead Lighting Artist at 2K, you’ll oversee the lighting team, ensuring they understand their roles and responsibilities. Your key duties include supervising the implementation of lighting across various projects, collaborating with artists and engineers for creative lighting solutions, and working with directors to establish visual standards.

Candidates for the Lead Lighting Artist role should have extensive experience with real-time AAA lighting, demonstrated proficiency with PBR techniques, and a strong portfolio showcasing their work on environments and characters in AAA games. Leadership and mentoring abilities are also crucial.

Essential skills for a Lead Lighting Artist at 2K include in-depth knowledge of dynamic lighting techniques, strong leadership capabilities, and a solid understanding of modern FPS engines like UE4 and UE5. Proficiency in communication and collaboration is also important for successful project execution.

At 2K, we value growth and mentorship. As a Lead Lighting Artist, you will have the opportunity to provide 1:1 coaching, conduct performance evaluations, and help your team members set career goals, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes professional advancement.

The work environment at 2K is inclusive and collaborative, designed to inspire creativity. As a Lead Lighting Artist, you'll work within a supportive team that encourages innovative thinking, providing you the space to create well-lit, visually stunning game experiences.

During your interview, emphasize specific lighting projects where you implemented techniques effectively. Discuss any challenges you faced and how your solutions enhanced the game’s atmosphere, demonstrating your technical proficiency in balancing performance and visual quality.

Share your leadership philosophy, focusing on open communication and fostering a supportive atmosphere. Discuss how you set expectations, provide constructive feedback, and help team members grow, highlighting specific examples of successful mentorship experiences.

Explain the importance of collaboration in delivering high-quality visuals. Describe your experience working with various departments such as Level Design and Art, focusing on how collective brainstorming and feedback loops lead to innovative lighting solutions.

Discuss your commitment to keeping updated on industry trends and standards, along with your strategies for implementing PBR techniques in your work. Mention any specific resources, conventions, or communities you engage with to maintain your expertise.

Share a detailed example where you faced unique challenges in a lighting project. Focus on how you identified the issue, developed a creative approach, and successfully delivered results while meeting project timelines and maintaining quality.

Talk about your techniques for achieving the right balance — such as optimizing asset creation, utilizing LODs, and adjusting lighting settings to maintain performance metrics without sacrificing visual quality. Use specific examples to illustrate your approach.

Discuss your sources of inspiration, be it other artists, nature, or cultural influences. Explain how this inspiration informs your work, aids in establishing a mood, and drives innovation in your lighting designs to create immersive gaming experiences.

Reassure interviewers of your openness to constructive criticism. Describe how you approach feedback, view it as an opportunity for growth, and provide examples of how you successfully incorporated feedback into your past projects.

Be prepared to mention the specific software you’ve used, such as Unreal Engine or Unity, and discuss your proficiency with these tools. Highlight how you leverage their features to create stunning lighting effects while streamlining workflows.

Express your passion for gaming and lighting. Talk about 2K’s portfolio, your admiration for the company’s work culture, and your desire to be a part of a team that creates immersive gaming worlds. Personalize this answer to reflect your unique motivation.