CD PROJEKT RED is officially recruiting a visionary Lead Lighting Artist to join our North American hub in Boston. This is a career-defining opportunity to spearhead the lighting department for Project Orion, the ambitious sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. We are looking for an artist who understands that lighting is not just a technical pass—it is the emotional heartbeat of the “Dark Future.”
As a Lead, you will be the architect of mood, shadow, and neon radiance. You will build and guide a world-class team, pushing the boundaries of Unreal Engine 5 to create cinematic, story-driven environments that go straight to the hearts of gamers. If you have the leadership prowess to inspire a team and the technical mastery to optimize real-time global illumination, we want to talk to you.
Job Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Company Name | CD PROJEKT RED |
| Project | Project Orion (Cyberpunk 2) |
| Position Title | Lead Lighting Artist |
| Employment Type | Full-Time |
| Location | Boston, MA, United States |
| Work Mode | Hybrid / In-Office (Selected US States Eligible for Remote) |
| Application Deadline | April 30, 2026 |
| Core Technology | Unreal Engine 5 |
Compensation & Financial Incentives
CD PROJEKT RED provides a premier compensation structure designed to attract the industry’s top leadership. We believe in transparency and rewarding the specialized expertise required to helm a AAA franchise.
| Benefit Component | Details |
| Annual Base Salary | $143,000 – $218,500 USD |
| Retirement Planning | 401K with competitive employer matching |
| Lifestyle Spending Account | $1,200 annually ($100/mo) for wellness, fitness, home office, or learning |
| Financial Review | Annual data-driven adjustments based on market and performance |
Note
Final offers are dependent on individual factors including experience, specific qualifications, and geographic location within the US.
The Role: Shaping the Visual Narrative
The Lead Lighting Artist is a dual role requiring high-level artistic vision and rigorous administrative leadership. You will work in lockstep with the Art Director to ensure that every street corner in Night City tells a story through light. From the oppressive shadows of the megastructures to the blinding glare of corporate neon, you will define how the world is seen—and felt.
1. Leadership & Team Management
- Mentorship & Growth: Act as the direct manager for the Lighting Team. Your mission is to recruit, guide, and mentor artists, fostering a culture of radical trust and technical excellence.
- Strategic Planning: Partner with Directors and Production to estimate work, set realistic deliverables, and ensure the lighting roadmap aligns with project milestones.
- Operational Excellence: Track the progress of lighting tasks, identify blockers early, and maintain a highly motivated and productive team environment.
2. Artistic Vision & Execution
- Aesthetic Problem Solving: Collaborate with the Art Director to translate concept art and narrative beats into high-quality cinematic lighting.
- Ownership: While leading others, you will maintain “skin in the game” by taking direct ownership of high-impact lighting tasks for hero locations or key cinematics.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work across Gameplay, Cinematics, and Environments to ensure lighting supports both the player’s path and the cinematic emotional arc.
3. Pipeline & Technical Strategy
- Workflow Innovation: Lead the development of a streamlined lighting pipeline in Unreal Engine 5. Your goal is to make the workflow as efficient as possible for your artists.
- Boundary Pushing: Partner with Technical Artists and Engineers to develop proprietary tools and shaders that push the limits of real-time lighting and ray-tracing.
- Optimization: Ensure that all lighting solutions are performant and stay strictly within technical budgets without compromising the artistic “wow” factor.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
CD PROJEKT RED is seeking a seasoned veteran who has successfully navigated the complexities of AAA game lighting.
Core Experience
- Industry Veteran: Minimum 8 years of experience in video games, with at least one shipped AAA title on your resume.
- Proven Leadership: Experience as a Lead or Senior in a mentorship capacity. We need someone who has successfully developed talent and managed project direction.
- Unreal Engine Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 (Lumen, Path Tracing, and legacy systems).
Artistic & Technical Skills
- Lighting Foundations: A portfolio demonstrating mastery of color theory, composition, and the use of light as a storytelling device.
- Technical Depth: Solid understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) concepts and real-time rendering techniques.
- Optimization Expert: Deep knowledge of how to profile and optimize lighting for console and PC hardware.
- Communication: Excellent presentation and collaboration skills, with a positive, “can-do” professional attitude.
Remote Eligibility (US States Only)
While we prefer our Lead to join us in our Boston Hub, we offer remote options for candidates residing in:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.
Health, Well-Being & Life as a “Red”
At CD PROJEKT RED, we believe that revolutionary games are made by people who are cared for. Our benefits package is industry-leading:
- Comprehensive Health: 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, and mental healthcare.
- Mental Health Support: Free access to counseling, psychiatric care, and well-being webinars.
- Time to Recharge: 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, and 12 calendar holidays per year.
- Inclusive Leave: Menstrual Leave for employees experiencing period pain (one extra day off per month).
- Family Support: The RED Parents Network provides childcare benefits and family-friendly events.
- Professional Growth: Access to internal workshops, external training, and a welcome pack filled with Cyberpunk swag.
- Office Perks: Our Boston office is dog-friendly, casual (no dress code), and hosts a truly international community.
Application Instructions
To be considered for the position of Lead Lighting Artist on Project Orion, please submit your application through our portal by April 30, 2026.
- Portfolio Review: Your portfolio must demonstrate high-end real-time lighting. We are looking for shots that show both technical optimization and emotional weight. Applications without a portfolio link will not be considered.
- Leadership Statement: Briefly outline your philosophy on mentoring artists and managing technical debt in a lighting pipeline.
Dear Hiring Management,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Lighting Artist position at your esteemed company, as advertised. With a passion for creating visually captivating experiences and a strong background in lighting design, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.
Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in lighting design through various projects, ranging from video games to animated films. My experience includes collaborating closely with art directors, animators, and other team members to achieve the desired visual mood and atmosphere for each project. I am proficient in industry-standard software such as Maya, Unreal Engine, Blender, Arnold, V-Ray, Red shift, Photoshop and Nuke, allowing me to bring concepts to life with precision and creativity.
One of my strengths as a lighting artist is my ability to understand the narrative and emotional elements of a scene and translate them into lighting choices that enhance the viewer’s experience. Whether it’s creating dramatic lighting for a tense action sequence or crafting subtle, nuanced lighting for a heartfelt moment, I strive to elevate the storytelling through my work.
I am also adept at problem-solving and working under tight deadlines, ensuring that projects are completed on time and to the highest standards of quality. My attention to detail and dedication to continuous improvement make me a valuable asset to any creative team.
I am particularly drawn to your company because of its reputation for pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and innovation in the industry. I am eager to bring my skills and passion for lighting design to your team, contributing to the creation of immersive and memorable experiences for your audience.
Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the possibility of joining your team and contributing to your company’s success.