Virtuos is seeking a talented, motivated, and visually driven Mid-Level Lighting Artist to join our expanding creative team in Dublin. In this role, you will play a vital part in crafting the visual identity of ambitious, unannounced AAA titles targeting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and high-end PC platforms.
The ideal candidate bridges the gap between artistic sensibilities and technical execution. You should possess an exceptional aesthetic eye for color, mood, and composition, backed by a strong technical understanding of real-time, Physically Based Lighting (PBL) pipelines—specifically within Unreal Engine 5 (UE5).
Operating within an international, multi-disciplinary environment, you will work closely under the guidance of the Lead Lighting Artist and Art Directors to establish cinematic atmospheres that enhance both the narrative weight and the fundamental gameplay design of our titles.
Job Overview : Mid-Level Lighting Artist
| Job Details | Specification |
| Job Title | Mid-Level Lighting Artist |
| Department | Art / Lighting |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland (Hybrid Work Model Available) |
| Employment Type | Full-Time, Permanent |
| Experience Level | Mid-Level (1+ years of real-time industry experience) |
| Studio | Black Shamrock (Ireland’s largest PC & console studio) |
| Parent Company | Virtuos Group (One of the world’s largest game co-developers) |
| Target Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC |
| Core Tool Stack | Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), Physically Based Lighting (PBL) pipelines, Maya / 3ds Max |
Company Overview: Play, Grow, and Win with Virtuos
To be a part of Virtuos means to be a creator at the very forefront of the interactive entertainment industry. Since our founding in 2004, Virtuos has established itself as one of the world’s largest independent video game development companies. Headquartered in Singapore, our global footprint spans across major hubs in Asia, Europe, and North America.
We specialize in full-cycle game development and high-end art production, having successfully delivered premium content for more than 1,500 console, PC, and mobile games. Our prestigious client roster includes 23 of the top 25 gaming companies worldwide, allowing our team members to shape the most iconic intellectual properties in gaming history.
At Virtuos, we harness the latest development technologies to make games better, deeper, and more immersive than ever before. We pride ourselves on constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Virtuos is a collective of industry experts—passionate people who have come together to share a mutual love for making and playing games. We possess a shared enthusiasm for exploring new ideas, a constant drive to excel in our respective fields, and a firm belief that true success is earned through dedication, collaboration, and continuous innovation. Together, we empower our global crew to Play, Grow, and Win.
Our studio is Ireland’s largest PC and console game development studio and provides unique opportunities to work on multiple AAA titles. Our people are as diverse, exciting, creative, and dynamic as the projects that we work on. Virtuos is a place for talent to flourish and lifelong industry connections to begin. Our comprehensive, in-house, full-service capabilities include narrative design, game design, sound engineering, level design, animation, technical rigging, software engineering, and advanced graphics. At Virtuos, we take pride in our role in placing Dublin on the global map as a premier birthplace for award-winning AAA games.
About Black Shamrock
Virtuos is seeking a talented, motivated, and visually driven Mid-Level Lighting Artist to join our expanding creative team in Dublin. In this role, you will play a vital part in crafting the visual identity of ambitious, unannounced AAA titles targeting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and high-end PC platforms.
The ideal candidate bridges the gap between artistic sensibilities and technical execution. You should possess an exceptional aesthetic eye for color, mood, and composition, backed by a strong technical understanding of real-time, Physically Based Lighting (PBL) pipelines—specifically within Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). Operating within an international, multi-disciplinary environment, you will work closely under the guidance of the Lead Lighting Artist and Art Directors to establish cinematic atmospheres that enhance both the narrative weight and the fundamental gameplay design of our titles.
Key Responsibilities
As a Mid-Level Lighting Artist, your daily responsibilities will blend creative artistry with rigorous technical optimization across the following domains:
1. Aesthetic Lighting & Atmosphere Creation
- Design and execute high-quality real-time lighting setups that establish the visual mood, time of day, and dramatic atmosphere of the game worlds, while respecting strict technical and artistic constraints.
- Implement and fine-tune secondary environmental and atmospheric effects, including volumetric fog, atmospheric scattering, lens flares, color grading, and camera post-processing volumes.
- Maintain strict visual consistency and exposure balance across game levels to ensure seamless transitions between different environments and cinematic sequences.
2. Cross-Discipline Collaboration
- Partner closely with Level Designers and Environment Artists to guide the player’s eye, emphasize structural composition, clarify navigation paths, and enhance environmental storytelling.
- Collaborate with the Lead Lighting Artist to interpret design documentation, concept art, and references, translating them into cohesive real-time environments that match the director’s creative vision.
- Actively participate in art reviews, providing constructive solutions and integrating feedback efficiently into your active workspaces.
3. Optimization & Technical Rigor
- Incorporate an advanced understanding of Physically Based Lighting (PBL) principles and real-time light behavior to ensure assets react accurately under varying light sources.
- Profile, optimize, and debug lighting setups (including static baking, dynamic workflows, and virtualized geometry interactions) to maintain a flawless balance between premium visual quality and target hardware performance.
- Reference technical specifications and design bibles to stay fully aligned with the project’s performance budgets for modern consoles and PC hardware.
Qualifications & Skill Requirements
We are looking for an artist who can demonstrate a strong blend of technical problem-solving and classic artistic principles:
Core Experience & Portfolio
- Industry Experience: 1+ years of professional experience operating within the video game industry specifically as a real-time lighting artist, preferably with exposure to AA or AAA production pipelines.
- Portfolio Requirement: A definitive, high-quality portfolio or showreel showcasing a strong mastery of real-time lighting, atmospheric design, light/shadow interplay, and cinematic composition.
Technical & Artistic Proficiency
- Artistic Foundations: An exceptional aesthetic eye for color theory, spatial composition, natural light behavior, and cinematic value structures.
- PBL Pipeline Mastery: Strong foundational knowledge of Physically Based Lighting principles, material properties (roughness, specularity, metallic values), and real-time exposure control.
- Engine & Software Toolkit: Proven proficiency with modern real-time engines (such as Unreal Engine 5 or proprietary equivalents) and intermediate working knowledge of standard 3D asset creation software (e.g., Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max).
- Problem-Solving: Superb technical and creative troubleshooting abilities, with a proven capacity to optimize complex lighting setups without compromising artistic intent.
- Communication: Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, allowing for seamless collaboration across an international, multi-disciplinary development environment.
What We Offer
At Virtuos, we believe our people are the ultimate foundation of our success. We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive rewards package that supports your professional growth, health, and personal well-being:
- Career Progression: The opportunity to be a part of one of the largest and fastest-growing game development studios in Ireland, with clear, dynamic career pathways working on the world’s most recognizable AAA franchises.
- Community-Driven Culture: A welcoming, tight-knit, and thoroughly people-oriented studio culture that encourages mutual respect and open creative expression.
- Work-Life Balance: Flexible hybrid working arrangements designed to support a healthy lifestyle, complemented by a dedicated bank for paid sick leave and specialized wellness leave.
- Financial & Health Protection: Access to a comprehensive company healthcare plan alongside an Occupational Pension Scheme that includes direct employer contributions.
- Global Training & Professional Development: Broad study support, funding for formal education, structured career planning, and international skill-progression opportunities.
- International Mobility: Access to global career paths and relocation opportunities through the official Virtuos Internal Mobility Program.
- Commuter Benefits & Perks: Access to regional Taxsaver transit plans, subsidized leave allowances, and dedicated relocation support for candidates moving to Dublin from abroad.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Virtuos, diverse opinions, unique life experiences, and varied cultural backgrounds matter deeply to us. Our talented teams are the cornerstone of our global success, and we recognize that fostering an inclusive, equitable workplace is central to what we do best. Virtuos is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that wholeheartedly embraces diversity of thought, expression, culture, and identity. We make games better, together.
How to Apply
If you are a passionate lighting artist ready to elevate your career on global AAA titles, please submit your application, current resume, and a link to your digital portfolio through our online application portal.
