MachineGames Senior Lighting Artist, Uppsala

Thank you for your interest in joining MachineGames, a premier game development studio located in the historic heart of Uppsala, Sweden. We are the architects behind the modern Wolfenstein saga and the creators of the critically acclaimed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

MachineGames is looking for a Senior Lighting Artist who is as passionate about storytelling as they are about the technical artistry of real-time rendering. At MachineGames, you aren’t just placing lights; you are shaping the mood, guiding the player, and breathing life into beautifully detailed worlds.

Job Overview

• Company Name: MachineGames (Part of the ZeniMax Media / Bethesda Softworks family)
• Job Title: Senior Lighting Artist
• Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
• Location: Uppsala, Sweden (HQ) or Sundsvall, Sweden (Satellite Office)
• Work Model: Permanent On-site with Hybrid flexibility
• Relocation Support: Full relocation support provided (Immigration, shipping, and temporary housing)
• Estimated Salary: 650,000 SEK – 780,000 SEK annually (Based on 2026 senior market data for Sweden)

About MachineGames

Founded in 2010, MachineGames has cultivated a legacy of technical excellence and a “no-ego” studio culture. We believe in the power of the team over the individual. Our developers are recognized for their unique ability to fuse intense, “crunchy” first-person gameplay with cinematic, immersive narratives.

Our primary studio is located in central Uppsala, a vibrant university city just 40 minutes north of Stockholm. Uppsala offers a perfect blend of pre-medieval heritage and modern Swedish innovation. For those looking for a different pace, we also maintain a satellite office in the scenic coastal city of Sundsvall.

Core Responsibilities

As a Senior Lighting Artist, you will be a key stakeholder in the visual identity of our games. You will collaborate daily with art, design, and tech teams to ensure that our lighting elevates both the gameplay and the narrative.

1. Visual Storytelling & Atmosphere

• Gameplay & Cutscenes: Light diverse spaces, from tightly choreographed linear sequences to expansive, open-ended sandbox environments.
• Artistic Style: Work closely with the Art Director and Lead Artists to maintain a consistent mood and style, ensuring all work hits our high-fidelity visual targets.
• Versatility: Switch effortlessly between themes—from high-contrast noir to soft, muted palettes, or realistic day/night cycles.

2. Technical Implementation

• Environment Effects: Place and tune atmospheric effects including volumetrics, light shafts, fog, and reflection probes.
• Lighting Tech: Implement a mix of static (baked) and dynamic (real-time) lighting setups where appropriate for performance and visual quality.
• Post-Processing: Drive the final look of the game through expert-level post-processing work and color grading.

3. Research & Documentation

• Innovation: Research and prototype future lighting solutions to keep MachineGames at the cutting edge of real-time rendering.
• Guidelines: Create and maintain documentation for lighting pipelines to assist the wider team and ensure technical consistency.

Required Qualifications

MachineGames is seeking an artist who balances a refined aesthetic eye with a deep understanding of the technical “under-the-hood” mechanics of modern game engines.

• Artistic Mastery: An excellent understanding of lighting theory, color space, exposure, and Physically Based Rendering (PBR).
• Cinematic Insight: Familiarity with cinematography and dramaturgy. You should understand how to use light for scene blocking and to manipulate player emotion.
• Technical Toolkit: Professional experience with 3D graphics software (Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender) and modern game engines (Unreal, Unity, or proprietary tech).
• Pipeline Knowledge: Thorough understanding of baked lightmaps versus real-time global illumination and HDR workflows.
• Optimization: The ability to push visual quality to its limit while remaining within the performance constraints of modern hardware and production schedules.

Life at MachineGames: Values & Benefits

Our studio culture is built on mutual respect and a passion for the craft. We pride ourselves on a flat hierarchy and a collaborative spirit.

Our Values

• Team Performance: We value collective success over individual ego.
• Open Doors: Transparency and communication are fundamental to our workflow.
• Accountability: We take ownership of our work and learn openly from our mistakes.
• Actionable Feedback: We provide clear, constructive critiques to help everyone grow.

Perks & Benefits

• Relocation Assistance: We handle the complexity of work permits (for non-EU citizens) and provide financial support for moving your life to Sweden.
• Wellness & Health: Comprehensive pension and insurance packages, annual wellness days, and a wellness credit for physical activities.
• Studio Fika: Weekly “Fika” (the Swedish tradition of coffee and snacks) to socialize with the whole team, plus a daily in-office breakfast bar.
• Game Culture: Access to a deep library of Bethesda/ZeniMax titles and employee discounts.
• Swedish Living: Benefit from 25 days of paid vacation, generous parental leave (480 days), and subsidized healthcare/childcare.

How to Apply

If you are a passionate gamer who wants to push the boundaries of what is possible in real-time lighting, we want to hear from you. Please prepare a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to handle both technical challenges and artistic mood-setting.

MachineGames is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive workplace for all, regardless of race, gender, or background.