The CG Lighting Artist is a vital creative and technical force within the Flying Bark Productions studio ecosystem. If you are actively searching for competitive Sydney jobs that demand world-class look development and collaborative storytelling, this role offers an incredible platform. As a CG Lighting Artist, you will work closely with compositors and creative Leads in order to achieve the creative brief set out by the VFX Supervisor.
This position requires an exceptional balance of highly developed technical pipeline fluency and deep artistic sensibility. Working at Flying Bark Productions, you will confidently use the tools or software provided, and play a critical role in the execution and delivery of the high-quality visual style of the production. You will be responsible for shaping light, shadow, color, and mood, transforming raw 3D assets into breathtaking final images that honor the director’s narrative goals and meet our elite technical and artistic standards.
Job Overview : CG Lighting Artist
| Category | Details |
| Company | Flying Bark Productions |
| Role Title | CG Lighting Artist |
| Industry Segment | Premium Sydney Jobs / Creative Tech / Lighting & Rendering |
| Location | Alexandria, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid (Flexible work-from-home options) |
| Employment Type | Full-Time, Max-Term Contract |
| Experience Required | Minimum 4+ years of studio production experience |
| Core Software | Foundry Katana, Autodesk Arnold, Foundry Nuke |
| Key Projects | Avatar: The Last Airbender (Film), Ghostbusters (Netflix), Stranger Things (Netflix), Zac Power (Film) |
Welcome to Flying Bark Productions
For over 50 years, Flying Bark Productions has stood as a premier independent producer of family-focused animation entertainment. From our state-of-the-art 2D and 3D production facility, we offer some of the most sought-after Sydney jobs in the global creative tech and media sectors. We have spent decades building a legacy of award-winning feature films and internationally celebrated television series. Our studio ecosystem is dynamic, highly passionate, and deeply innovative, constantly dedicated to pushing the absolute boundaries of character animation, lighting, and cinematic storytelling.
When you are exploring premium Sydney jobs, very few offer the artistic depth, creative scale, and cultural vibrancy found at Flying Bark Productions. Flying Bark Productions’s current active portfolio includes some of the most highly anticipated, artistically ambitious projects in the global entertainment landscape. As a CG Lighting Artist joining our elite crew, you will have the unique opportunity to leave your creative mark on monumental titles, including:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (Upcoming Feature Film)
- Ghostbusters (Netflix Animated Series)
- Stranger Things (Netflix Animated Series)
- Zac Power (Upcoming Feature Film)
Detailed Responsibilities and Duties for CG Lighting Artist
Creative Lighting, Staging & Rendering
- Artistic Look Execution: Establish and refine the visual look of shots based on the creative standards, mood, and visual style of the project as advised by the VFX Supervisor and Lighting Leads.
- Graphic Stylization: Handle complex lighting scenarios tailored for highly stylized, graphic interpretations of reality, manipulating tone and value to emphasize storytelling over traditional realism.
- Aesthetic Consistency: Maintain precise consistency of lighting rigs, directions, and values across entire sequences and shots to guarantee seamless continuity.
- Pre-Compositing Integration: Build organized pre-composite node trees in Foundry Nuke to test and combine rendered layers effectively before passing them down the pipeline.
Pipeline Optimization & Technical Troubleshooting
- Katana & Arnold Fluidity: Utilize Foundry Katana and Autodesk Arnold to build, manage, and optimize sophisticated lighting setups and render passes.
- Render Troubleshooting: Proactively optimize and troubleshoot lighting and render diagnostics in a fast-paced environment to minimize render overheads and technical glitches.
- Downstream Collaboration: Partner closely with digital compositors to bring shots smoothly from initial lighting passes through to final visual sign-off while maintaining established timing and production quotas.
- Problem Prediction: Actively analyze assigned sequences to self-manage tasks, troubleshoot technical hurdles independently, and predict potential pipeline issues before they disrupt production schedules.
Team Integration & Communication
- Creative Brief Interpretation: Successfully translate complex verbal and visual creative briefs from directors and leads into physical lighting choices.
- Proactive Information Seeking: Maintain regular, clear, and transparent communication with production coordinators and technical leads, seeking out information immediately when necessary.
- Adaptive Collaboration: Embrace a highly flexible and collaborative approach to work, adapting seamlessly to changing creative notes, schedule adjustments, and evolving studio demands.
Experience and Qualifications as CG Lighting Artist
Flying Bark Productions is seeking passionate, technical, and highly skilled lighting artists who possess a sophisticated understanding of cinematography and digital image construction.
Technical & Artistic Requirements:
- Studio Experience: A minimum requirement of 4+ years of professional, production-proven experience working as a lighting artist within 3D animated feature films and/or high-end animated episodic series.
- Software Mastery: Extensive, production-proven experience lighting and rendering with Autodesk Arnold using Foundry Katana.
- Nuke Proficiency: Practical experience using Foundry Nuke to create balanced, highly efficient pre-composite node setups that combine multi-layered render elements.
- Stylized Portfolio Preferences: Portfolios and showreels showcasing a mature, graphic stylization of reality are highly preferred. We are actively targeting aesthetics somewhat in the vein of groundbreaking works like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Entergalactic, Arcane, and The Witness (Love, Death + Robots).
- Cinematic Foundations: A superior, highly refined eye for composition, color theory, photographic mood, and physical lighting behaviors, combined with a deep understanding of standard industry color spaces.
Mindset & Collaboration Skills:
- Team Dynamics: A collaborative professional who values strong team dynamics, maintains a positive workspace, and accepts creative direction gracefully.
- Self-Management: Highly organized with a proven ability to self-manage personal production tasks and hit strict delivery deadlines.
- Flexibility: A flexible professional approach that embraces creative evolution and remains responsive to shifting directional notes.
Why Join the Flying Bark Family?
When evaluating top-tier Sydney jobs, the workspace and workplace culture are just as critical as the work itself. At Flying Bark, we genuinely believe that an animation studio is only as good as its community. Our crew frequently reports that our studio culture is the best they have ever experienced. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, welcoming, and deeply collaborative environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are.
An Unmatched Studio Environment:
Located in the vibrant, creative tech hub of Alexandria, Sydney, our industry-leading studio space is custom-designed to foster inspiration, creative collaboration, relaxation, and genuine community. When you are on-site, you will have full access to:
- A state-of-the-art in-house digital cinema for screenings, project launches, and high-impact reviews.
- A dedicated Quiet Room and a peaceful, beautifully landscaped Zen Garden for moments of decompression, mindfulness, and creative reflection.
- A fully-stocked games room to unwind and connect with colleagues.
- A vibrant social calendar curated by our dedicated Culture Club, featuring regular cake days, catered movie nights, legendary wrap parties, and themed studio events.
- A dog-friendly workplace! We absolutely love our four-legged friends, and you will frequently see regular, fluffy companions roaming the office floors.
Community, Health, and Wellbeing:
- Paws for a Cause: We believe in using our platform for good. Our internal fundraising arm raises crucial funds for deeply impactful charities, including Beyond Blue, the RSPCA, and the Cancer Council.
- Mental Health Infrastructure: We prioritize your personal peace of mind and holistic health. All employees have access to robust mental health resources, including free, confidential professional counseling via our specialized Employee Assistance Provider, Support Act, alongside multiple on-staff team members fully qualified in Mental Health First Aid.
- Complimentary Daily Breakfast: Start your mornings right without the rush—enjoy a fully provided breakfast served daily at the studio—on us!
- Holistic Wellbeing Benefits: Enjoy discounted private health insurance options through our partnership with Bupa, as well as tailored financial wellbeing initiatives and planning provided by Media Super.
Premium Perks & Flare Benefits (For Eligible Employees):
- Flare Benefits Platform: Gain immediate access to exclusive digital discounts, cashback offers, and premium deals at hundreds of major Australian retailers to help your everyday pay stretch further.
- Health Insurance Savings: Compare and save significantly on private health cover, with potential annual savings of up to $300.
- Novated Leasing (Flare Cars): Save an average of $10,000 per year on vehicle ownership, maintenance, and operating costs through tax-effective novated leasing. (Note: Flare Platform, Health Discounts, and Novated Leasing are available to permanent employees and fixed-term contractors on contracts of 12 months or more).
Equal Opportunity Employer
Flying Bark Productions is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and safe environment for all employees looking for impactful Sydney jobs. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.
How to Apply
If you want to secure one of the premier creative Sydney jobs available today, possess the required 4+ years of Katana and Arnold production experience, and have a profound passion for establishing groundbreaking visual styles, we want to hear from you. Please submit your current resume, a cover letter outlining your artistic journey, and a link to your latest reel demonstrating your digital lighting and look rendering capabilities.
