Rodeo FX, an Academy Award®-winning visual effects studio and a perennial recipient of “Montreal’s Top Employer” awards, is currently seeking a visionary Senior Lighting Artist for an elite temporary contract. This role is a cornerstone of our 3D department, offering the chance to contribute to high-stakes, world-class productions for partners like Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, and Warner Bros.
At Rodeo FX, we believe that lighting is the soul of a shot. It is the bridge between a digital asset and a believable reality. As a Senior Lighting Artist, you will join a team of nearly 900 artists who have recently shaped the worlds of Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Rebel Moon. If you possess a masterful command of Houdini, an expert eye for cinematography, and a drive for technical optimization, we invite you to light the future with us.
Job Overview: Senior Lighting Artist
| Category | Details |
| Company Name | Rodeo FX |
| Job Title | Senior Lighting Artist |
| Location | Montreal, Canada (Hybrid/Remote Options Available) |
| Employment Type | Full-time, Temporary Contract |
| Department | 3D / Lighting |
| Estimated Salary | $55.00 – $75.00 per hour (Based on 10+ years experience) |
| Core Software | Houdini (Required), Solaris/USD, Arnold/RenderMan |
| Work Arrangement | Flexible / Remote-friendly (Studio locations in MTL, QC, TOR, LA, Paris) |
The Rodeo FX Mission: Driven by Artistry
Founded and led by artists, Rodeo FX operates under a simple guiding principle: Creativity above all. Our mission is to provide our talents with the freedom and cutting-edge resources they need to thrive in a stimulating, caring environment. Whether you are working from our flagship Montreal studio or remotely, you are part of an independent, Oscar®-winning company that prioritizes the artist’s voice in every project.
Our recent accolades, including the 2023 VES Award for Love, Death and Robots, are a testament to our culture of excellence. We don’t just complete projects; we create benchmarks for the entire visual effects industry.
The Role: Architect of Mood and Realism
The Senior Lighting Artist is responsible for designing and implementing complex lighting and shading solutions that breathe life into 3D environments and CG elements. This role requires a rare blend of artistic intuition and technical rigor, ensuring that every render is a masterpiece of light, shadow, and color.
1. Mastery of the Lighting Craft
You will be expected to operate at the highest level of technical proficiency within the 3D pipeline:
- Advanced Setups: Create robust lighting rigs tailored to the specific needs of diverse shots, ranging from intimate character close-ups to massive environmental vistas.
- Houdini Workflow: Demonstrate an expert-level command of Houdini lighting workflows, utilizing Solaris and LOPs to manage complex scenes.
- Seamless Integration: Refine shaders and renders to ensure that CG elements sit perfectly within live-action plates or full-CG environments, facilitating a smooth hand-off to the Compositing department.
- Problem Solving: Develop proactive, efficient solutions to the inevitable technical hurdles of high-end production.
2. Elevating Creative Quality
Lighting at Rodeo FX is about more than visibility; it is about storytelling.
- Artistic Vision: Translate the Director’s or Supervisor’s visual intent into a coherent lighting language that reinforces the scene’s emotional weight.
- Staging & Depth: Use light and shadow to guide the viewer’s eye, define silhouettes, and enhance the three-dimensional depth of every frame.
- Realism & Subtlety: Maintain the highest standards of photorealism, paying close attention to secondary light bounces, caustic effects, and natural atmospheric scattering.
3. Technical Optimization & Standards
Senior artists are the guardians of the studio’s technical health.
- Scene Efficiency: Optimize complex setups to minimize render times and machine load without sacrificing visual fidelity.
- Standardization: Strictly follow the department’s naming conventions, scene structures, and versioning protocols.
- Quality Control: Identify and eliminate artifacts, noise, and flickering prior to submission. You are expected to be your own harshest critic before a shot ever reaches the Supervisor’s desk.
Who You Are: Qualifications & Technical Profile
We are looking for a veteran artist with a proven track record of delivering high-end visual effects for film and episodic television.
Core Requirements:
- Professional Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience specifically in Lighting within a top-tier VFX or 3D animation environment.
- Software Expertise: Advanced knowledge of Houdini is mandatory. You should be comfortable navigating the transition to USD-based workflows.
- Render Engines: Mastery of industry-standard engines such as Arnold, Karma, or RenderMan.
- USD (Universal Scene Description): A solid understanding of USD is essential for navigating the current Rodeo FX pipeline.
- Cross-Department Knowledge: A strong grasp of the entire 3D/2D workflow, including LookDev, Modeling, and Compositing, to ensure your renders are “Comp-friendly.”
Soft Skills & Professionalism:
- Independence: The ability to work rigorously and autonomously, even when managing remote tasks.
- Reliable Communication: Provide accurate time estimates and flag potential delays early. Transparency with the Production team is key to our success.
- Mentorship Mindset: A willingness to document setups and share knowledge with the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Bonus Assets:
- Proficiency in Python scripting to automate repetitive tasks.
- Experience with ShotGrid for production tracking.
- A history of developing in-house tools or shaders.
Work Environment: Flexibility & Inclusion
Rodeo FX is proud to offer a flexible work structure. While our headquarters are in Montreal, we embrace a hybrid and remote-friendly model that allows our artists to deliver quality work from where they are most inspired.
- Supportive Culture: We prioritize a “caring environment” where mental health and professional growth are balanced with the demands of production.
- Global Reach: Work on global IPs from the comfort of a studio that feels like a community.
- Training & Development: Stay at the forefront of the industry with internal training initiatives and access to the latest CG advancements.
How to Apply
If you have the experience and the artistic fire to join our Lighting team for this temporary contract, we want to see your portfolio.
Your Submission Must Include:
1. Current CV: Outlining your experience on major feature films or series.
2. Portfolio / Demo Reel: Highlighting your best lighting work. Please include a breakdown for each shot (original plate vs. render).
3. Software Proficiency: Please explicitly state your experience level with Houdini and your preferred render engines.
Application Deadline: Rolling recruitment for an immediate start.
Rodeo FX is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Senior Lighting Artist job at Rodeo FX
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