Website Rebellion
Job Overview
- Company Name: Rebellion Developments
- Job Title: Lead Lighting Artist
- Industry: Video Games / Entertainment
- Location: Oxford
- Work Model: On-site (Riverside Headquarters)
- Employment Type: Full-Time
- Seniority Level: Lead / Senior Management
- Required Experience: Significant professional experience with a focus on real-time lighting
- Salary Range: Competitive (Commensurate with experience)
- Reporting Structure: Reports to Art Directors / Centralized Art Leadership
Rebellion – Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Rebellion is inviting visionary artistic leaders to #JOINTHEREBELLION. For three decades, we have maintained our status as one of Europe’s leading independent game developers and publishers. Founded by Jason and Chris Kingsley, Rebellion has expanded far beyond the digital realm, encompassing a film studio, board game division, book publishing house, and the iconic 2000 AD comic portfolio.
We are currently seeking an elite Lead Lighting Artist to join our centralized Art team in Oxford. This is a high-impact role designed to support multiple high-profile projects simultaneously, setting the benchmark for visual atmosphere and technical execution across our entire game development pipeline.
Company Overview
Rebellion is a unique entity in the global entertainment landscape. Our independence is our greatest strength, allowing us complete creative freedom over our titles across all major platforms. From the gritty streets of Judge Dredd to the tactical precision of Sniper Elite, we pride ourselves on a “people-first” culture that champions innovation, inclusivity, and work-life balance.
Our Oxford headquarters provides a creative, open-plan sanctuary where developers work in a relaxed yet driven atmosphere. We celebrate diversity in all forms—culture, gender, ethnicity, and neurodiversity—believing that a representative team is the foundation of world-class products.
Role Overview as Lead Lighting Artist
As the Lead Lighting Artist, you will serve as the studio’s primary technical and artistic authority on light, shadow, and atmosphere. You will oversee the creation of everything from breathtaking sunsets and flickering lamp posts to the complex “god rays” that define a forest’s depth.
This is a centralized, cross-project role. You will work within our proprietary in-house engine to take ownership of lighting quality, support rendering improvements, and mentor artists across various project teams. You are the architect of mood, ensuring that every adventure our players embark upon is grounded in visual excellence and narrative clarity.
Key Responsibilities as Lead Lighting Artist
1. Artistic Vision & Execution
Collaborate with Art Directors across multiple projects to define a distinct lighting identity for each title.
Craft compelling, atmospheric lighting that reinforces narrative intent and guides player navigation.
- Apply expert-level knowledge of color theory, exposure, and contrast to create specific tones and moods.
2. Technical Leadership & Optimization
Take ownership of the lighting pipeline, contributing to the development of in-house tools and comprehensive documentation.
Proactively address technical challenges related to physically-based rendering (PBR) and engine-specific constraints.
Optimize lighting assets to maximize hardware performance without compromising aesthetic quality.
3. Mentorship & Studio Standards
Act as a centralized resource to upskill Environment Artists and junior Lighting Artists on best practices.
Establish studio-wide lighting standards to ensure consistency across different development stages.
Provide constructive, high-level feedback to peers and subordinates to raise the overall quality bar of the studio.
4. Cross-Discipline Collaboration
Work in lockstep with Environment, VFX, and Design teams to ensure lighting supports broader game needs.
Manage tasks and priorities across concurrent projects, ensuring deadlines are met in a fast-paced environment.
Required Qualifications & Technical Skills
Technical Mastery
Expert Portfolio: A world-class body of work demonstrating mastery of real-time lighting within game engines (Unreal, Unity, or proprietary tech).
PBR Shading: Deep understanding of Physically Based Rendering workflows and material interaction with light.
Lighting Fundamentals: Absolute command over color theory, exposure values, and atmospheric composition.
Problem Solving: A proven ability to identify and resolve complex technical bottlenecks in the lighting pipeline.
Professional Experience
Significant experience in shipping high-quality titles with a focus on in-game lighting.
Demonstrated ability to manage lighting for multiple projects simultaneously with minimal oversight.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical rendering needs and artistic vision.
Desirable Attributes
Experience in a lead or senior role, particularly within a centralized “service team” model.
Familiarity with HDR authoring and calibration for various display types.
Knowledge of post-processing pipelines (tone-mapping, bloom, auto-exposure).
Background in cinematic lighting techniques and their application to real-time environments.
Leadership Expectations for Lighting Artist
In this role, leadership extends beyond technical oversight. You are expected to be a proactive communicator and a cultural role model. You will be responsible for:
Knowledge Sharing: Naturally inclined to train others and share your expertise to empower the wider team.
Task Prioritization: Managing competing deadlines across various studio projects with precision.
Feedback Culture: Both seeking and providing constructive critique to foster a mindset of continuous improvement.
Benefits and Perks
Rebellion offers an industry-leading benefits package designed to support your health, wealth, and happiness:
Time Off: 22 days of holiday, plus a dedicated Christmas closure (typically 4 days) and all UK Bank Holidays. Holiday allowance increases with service up to 31 days.
Healthcare: Private Medical Insurance and a healthcare cash plan including Dental and Vision coverage.
Security: Life Assurance, Income Protection, and Critical Illness Cover.
Financial Support: Interest-free, tax-free loans and an enhanced pension scheme.
Relocation: A comprehensive relocation package including moving assistance and temporary accommodation for those transitioning to Oxford.
Well-being: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health and well-being support.
Social: Regular social events, discounts, freebies, and an onsite tuck shop with free hot drinks.
Application Process
Please note that this role is only open to applicants with the permanent right to work in the UK. Rebellion is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
Portfolio Submission: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates the technical and artistic requirements listed above.
Initial Review: Our Art Leadership will assess your work for quality, consistency, and technical depth.
Interviews: Candidates will move through a series of technical and cultural interviews with Art Directors and the Engineering team.
Onboarding: Successful candidates will be supported by our dedicated HR team for a smooth transition into our Oxford headquarters.
To apply for this job please visit apply.workable.com.