Company: Studio Gobo

Studio Gobo, a powerhouse in the AAA gaming industry and a key member of the Keywords Studios family, is seeking a visionary Lead or Principal Lighting Artist. Based in the creative hub of Brighton, UK, our studio is the engine behind some of the world’s most recognizable titles, having collaborated with industry titans like Guerrilla Games, Ubisoft, and Disney on projects such as Hogwarts Legacy, LEGO Horizon Adventures, and Redfall. As a Lead or Principal Lighting Artist, you will hold one of the most influential creative positions in the studio. You are responsible for the final “look” of the game, using light to define atmosphere, narrative depth, and emotional resonance. Whether you are establishing the stark shadows of a dark fantasy corridor or the vibrant bloom of a heroic landscape, your work will be the lens through which millions of players experience our worlds. Job Overview Company Name: Studio Gobo (Part of Keywords Studios) Job Title: Lead / Principal Lighting Artist Industry: Video Game Development (AAA Console) Location: Brighton, United Kingdom Work Model: In-Office / Hybrid Options Available Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Seniority Level: Lead / Principal (Management & Individual Contributor) Required Experience: 5+ years in AAA Games, Film, or TV Reporting Structure: Reports to the Art Director Salary Range: Competitive (Based on seniority and portfolio) Company Overview: The Studio Gobo Culture Studio Gobo isn’t just a place to work; it’s a community of world-class creators. We have been recognized seven times by GamesIndustry.Biz as one of the Best Mid-Sized Game Studios to work for in the U.K. We pride ourselves on an “industrial-chic” studio space that fosters creativity and a culture that prioritizes the well-being and growth of our team members. From in-house chefs preparing world-famous free lunches to a dog-friendly policy and active social clubs, we believe that the best games are built by people who are inspired, respected, and supported. Role Overview In this pivotal role, you will lead the lighting strategy for a high-profile AAA character action console game. You are the architect of tone and visibility. You will translate the Art Director’s vision into a technical reality, ensuring that lighting not only looks stunning but also reinforces gameplay interactions, readability, and traversal. You will be the primary point of contact for lighting, both internally and when collaborating with external clients, ensuring that every asset and environment meets the highest aesthetic and performance standards. Key Responsibilities Artistic Leadership & Vision Aesthetic Standards: Work closely with the Art Director and Environment Team to establish technical and aesthetic standards for lighting, sky set-ups, and cinematic style. Visual Communication: Use color scripts, mood boards, and corrective paint-overs to communicate lighting concepts to the wider team and clients. Atmospheric Mastery: Create and maintain all lighting elements, including dynamic, prebaked, interior, and exterior setups, to define the mood and tone of game worlds. Gameplay Integration: Use lighting as a functional tool to guide the player, reinforce gameplay cues, and ensure visual clarity during high-octane action. Technical Execution & Optimization Pipeline Development: Partner with Technical Artists and Engineering teams to develop, document, and maintain a stable and efficient lighting pipeline and project workflow. World Lighting: Take direct responsibility for placing, tweaking, and balancing light sources across all game levels. Post-Processing Excellence: Oversee color grading, exposure, SSAO, Global Illumination (GI), and other post-process effects to polish the final image. Shading & Materials: Tune surface shading and textures in collaboration with the environment team to improve the perception of light and material response. Management & Mentorship Project Scheduling: Manage your own tasks and assist in scheduling the lighting department’s work to meet tight production deadlines. Quality Assurance: Ensure the vision remains consistent across all lighters on the project, providing feedback and mentorship to maintain a unified visual language. Point of Contact: Act as the technical and artistic liaison for clients, ensuring all authored content follows strict brand and technical guidelines. Required Qualifications & Technical Skills Professional Experience: Several years of production lighting experience on successful AAA game, TV, or film projects. Artistic Foundation: An exceptional understanding of composition, color theory, color space, and lighting principles. Technical Proficiency: Deep knowledge of PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows, real-time rendering technologies, and the relationship between shaders/materials and light. Engine Expertise: Prior experience with current-generation console hardware (PS5/Xbox Series X). Proficiency in Unreal Engine is a distinct advantage. Tool Mastery: Expert-level skills in industry-standard 3D packages, Photoshop, After Effects, or equivalent lighting/compositing software. Cinematography: A strong understanding of dramaturgy, scene blocking, and camera technology to enhance narrative storytelling. Benefits and Perks Studio Gobo provides an industry-leading benefits package designed to support every aspect of your life: Financial Security: Generous team project bonuses, an Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP), and a matching company pension scheme. Health & Wellness: Full private medical (BUPA) and dental insurance, group life insurance, and a £50/month health and wellbeing allowance. Work-Life Balance: 25 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), bonus anniversary holidays, and a dedicated Christmas studio closure. Relocation Support: Comprehensive Visa and Relocation packages for you and your family to make the move to Brighton seamless. The “Gobo Perks”: Free world-famous Friday lunches, an in-house cereal bar, soft drinks/beer/wine fridges, and a dog-friendly studio environment. Professional Growth: A generous annual budget for conferences like GDC, SIGGRAPH, and UnrealFest. Application Process To apply for this Lead / Principal position, please submit a comprehensive application including: Professional Portfolio/Reel: A link to a digital reel demonstrating your lighting work in a real-time environment. We are looking for technical mastery and artistic versatility. Detailed CV: Highlighting your experience with AAA titles and your leadership history. Cover Letter: Briefly explaining your approach to lighting for character action games and why you are interested in joining Studio Gobo.

Studio Gobo, a premier name in the AAA gaming space and a proud member of the Keywords Studios family, is looking for an exceptional Senior VFX Artist. Based in the vibrant seaside city of Brighton, our studio has contributed to some of the world’s most iconic franchises, including Hogwarts Legacy, Redfall, and LEGO Horizon Adventures. As a Senior VFX Artist, you will be at the forefront of visual storytelling. We believe that VFX is the heartbeat of a game—it’s what makes a spell feel powerful, a character interaction feel tactile, and an environment feel alive. You will join a world-class team that values technical mastery as much as artistic flair, working in an award-winning environment recognized seven times by GamesIndustry.Biz as one of the Best Places to Work in the U.K. Senior VFX Artist Job Overview Company: Studio Gobo (Part of Keywords Studios) Position: Senior VFX Artist Location: Brighton, United Kingdom (On-site / Hybrid Options) Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Experience Level: Senior (2+ years as Senior in AAA) Estimated Salary Range: £55,000 – £78,000 GBP (Based on experience and portfolio) Core Technology: Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, Houdini The Role: Crafting the Spectacle A Senior VFX Artist at Studio Gobo is more than a technician; you are an architect of “wow” moments. Your work will span the entire spectrum of game effects, ensuring that every frame of the player experience is polished to a AAA standard. Core Responsibilities Bespoke Effect Creation: Design and implement original, industry-leading VFX for high-end consoles. This includes everything from subtle ambient particles (dust motes, falling leaves) to massive, impactful cinematic set-pieces. Gameplay Integration: Partner with the Combat and Character teams to create VFX that communicate gameplay mechanics clearly while maintaining a high level of visual impact. Pipeline Innovation: Collaborate with Technical Artists and Engineers to build and maintain an efficient, state-of-the-art VFX pipeline. You will be expected to push the boundaries of what is possible in real-time rendering. Prototyping & Pre-Vis: Use your technical knowledge to pre-visualize and prototype cutting-edge techniques, ensuring our projects stay at the forefront of the industry. Technical Documentation: Create clear guidelines for VFX creation and implementation, ensuring the wider team understands the technical constraints and the “how-to” of our custom tools. Artistic Leadership: Act as a champion for the VFX department. Constantly look for opportunities to enhance the game’s depth and atmosphere through your work. Technical Requirements & Skills as Senior VFX Artist Studio Gobo is looking for an artist who has spent years honing their craft on large-scale console projects. Your reel should demonstrate not just “explosions,” but an understanding of timing, weight, color theory, and technical optimization. Industry Experience: At least 2+ years of production experience specifically in a Senior VFX role within the games industry, with a track record of shipping cutting-edge AAA console titles. Software Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Maya and modern game engines. While we work across various tech, Unreal Engine experience is a distinct advantage. Technical Depth: A thorough understanding of shaders, materials, and the modern rendering pipeline. If you know how to squeeze every bit of performance out of a GPU while keeping things pretty, you’ll fit right in. Houdini Expertise: Experience with Houdini for procedural VFX and simulation is a major plus and will set you apart from other candidates. Artistic Eye: An exceptional drive for quality and a keen eye for detail. You should understand the principles of staging and the importance of “secondary” effects that ground a scene. Collaborative Spirit: A creative problem-solver who can take direction, give constructive feedback, and work harmoniously with designers, animators, and coders. Why Brighton & Studio Gobo? Brighton is the creative capital of the UK south coast, known for its inclusive culture, tech hubs, and beautiful coastline. Studio Gobo mirrors this energy, offering a workspace that is as much about community as it is about work. Unrivaled Benefits & Perks Studio Gobo believe that the best games are made by the best people, and we invest heavily in your well-being and growth. Financial & Security: Generous Bonuses: Project-based team bonuses that reward your hard work. Pension & Insurance: Employer-matched NEST pension, BUPA Private Medical Insurance, and Private Dental cover. Ownership: Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP) to share in the company’s success. Relocation Support: Comprehensive Visa and Relocation packages for qualified international candidates. Growth & Development: Conference Budget: Annual budget to attend GDC, UnrealFest, SIGGRAPH, or THU. Inspire & Motivate: Internal training opportunities and workshops to keep your skills sharp. Work-Life Balance: Generous Leave: 25 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays. You also earn an extra day for every year of service! Health Allowance: £50/month for healthy activities of your choice. Volunteer Time: One paid day per year to volunteer for a non-profit. Studio Life: The Kitchen: Free breakfasts (cereal bar), locally roasted coffee, and our famous Friday Studio Lunch cooked by our in-house chefs (vegan and GF options included!). Social Scene: Dog-friendly office, board game nights, D&D clubs, yoga, and even a bouldering club. Friday Show & Tell: Grab a drink from our beer/wine fridge and see what the rest of the team has been building. How to Apply If you are a Senior VFX Artist who wants to work in a spacious, “industrial-chic” studio where your dog can sit by your desk and your work will be seen by millions of players worldwide, we want to see your reel. Please ensure your application includes: A link to your current VFX reel (ArtStation, Vimeo, or personal site). A breakdown of your contributions to the projects shown. Your current CV highlighting AAA console experience.