Cinematic Lighting Artist at Naughty Dog 2026

Cinematic Lighting Artist  Job Overview

• Company: Naughty Dog (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

• Project (Working Title): Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

• Role Title: Cinematic Lighting Artist (Contingent)

• Employment Type: Temporary Engagement via Yoh Enterprise Solutions

• Location: Santa Monica, California (Hybrid / Onsite)

• Compensation Type: Hourly (Salaried Equivalent Available)

• Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States

Naughty Dog, the legendary studio behind some of the most critically acclaimed titles in gaming history—including The Last of Us and Uncharted—is seeking a world-class Cinematic Lighting Artist. For nearly four decades, our “kennel” has been the birthplace of industry-defining narratives and technical breakthroughs.

We are currently deep in development on our next ambitious project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we are looking for a lighting specialist to help us define the next generation of real-time cinematic storytelling.

As a Cinematic Lighting Artist at Naughty Dog, you are not just illuminating a scene; you are directing the player’s emotion. You will join a legacy of excellence, working alongside the industry’s most innovative minds to craft the evocative, character-driven atmospheres that have become our studio’s hallmark.

Salary & Compensation Table (USD)

Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) provide a highly competitive compensation structure for contingent talent, reflecting the specialized skills required to meet our “Naughty Dog Quality” standards.

Detailed Responsibilities: The Art of the Narrative Glow

At Naughty Dog, cinematics are the heartbeat of our storytelling. As a Cinematic Lighting Artist, you are responsible for the visual continuity and emotional impact of these sequences.

1. Cinematic Look Development

• Atmospheric Design: Develop complex lighting schemes for characters and environments, working in lockstep with Art Directors and the Concept Art team to translate 2D color keys into 3D masterpieces.

• Character Portraits: Utilize proprietary tools to achieve high-fidelity “hero” lighting that emphasizes performance, skin shaders, and micro-expressions during pivotal narrative moments.

• Mood & Tone: Recreate the mood and atmosphere defined by the script, ensuring the lighting guides the player’s focus and reinforces the narrative stakes.

2. Technical Integration & Optimization

• Seamless Transitions: Collaborate with the Level Lighting team to establish a smooth visual flow between active gameplay and in-game cinematics, avoiding jarring shifts in exposure or color.

• Budget Management: Work across departments (VFX, Environment, Tech Art) to ensure cinematic lighting runs within strict memory budgets. You must deliver peak visual quality without compromising the game’s performance or frame rate.

• Problem Solving: Address technical bottlenecks in the lighting pipeline, ensuring that shadows, reflections, and global illumination are technically sound and artifact-free.

3. Vendor & Pipeline Collaboration

• Outsource Management: Work with external vendors and lighting partners. You will provide clear feedback, technical guidance, and workflow training to ensure external work matches Naughty Dog’s internal bar.

• Peer Review: Actively participate in lighting reviews, giving and receiving constructive feedback to constantly elevate the studio’s visual output.

Professional Skills & Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate who possesses a sophisticated eye for traditional cinematography and a deep understanding of modern real-time rendering.

Core Technical Skills:

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years in the Games, Animation, or VFX/Film industry.

• Shipped Credits: Experience shipping at least one AAA game title or an equivalent high-end film/VFX project.

• Lighting Fundamentals: An excellent mastery of direct/indirect lighting, color theory, exposure, and contrast. You should understand how light interacts with various material types (PBR).

• Software Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in Autodesk Maya.

• Post-Production Expertise: Proficiency in industry-standard color grading software such as Nuke, Fusion, or DaVinci Resolve.

Professional Attributes:

• Artistic Interpretation: The ability to take a loose concept sketch or a verbal brief and translate it into a fully realized, three-dimensional lighting scheme.

• Autonomy: The ability to work with minimal direction while maintaining a dedicated attention to detail.

• Pressure Management: Resilience and the ability to work under the high-pressure environment of a time-sensitive AAA production schedule.

Bonus Skills (The “Dog” Factor):

• Real-Time Engines: Previous experience with proprietary or commercial real-time engines (Unreal, Unity, etc.).

• Baking & Pre-Lighting: Experience generating light-maps, pre-lighting, or baked lighting solutions.

• Technical Scripting: Familiarity with Python or other scripting languages to improve lighting workflows.

Life at the Kennel: Why Naughty Dog?

Joining Naughty Dog means joining a culture that obsesses over the details. We believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the success of our studio.

• Narrative Focus: You aren’t just a technician; you are a storyteller. Every light you place helps tell the story of Intergalactic.

• Innovation Culture: You will work with the top creative minds in the industry, utilizing proprietary tech that pushes the PS5 and PC hardware to its limits.

• Diverse & Inclusive: We welcome diverse candidates and strive for an environment where every individual can thrive.

• Santa Monica Legacy: Work in a beautiful hybrid/onsite environment in the heart of the California gaming hub.

The Application Process

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates are required to submit a professional Portfolio or Demo Reel. We are looking for work that shows a sophisticated understanding of cinematic composition, character lighting, and environmental storytelling.

Note: Candidates may be asked to complete a lighting-specific art test to demonstrate their technical and artistic proficiency within our standards.