Lighting Generalist

CoSA VFX is seeking an experienced Houdini Lighting Generalist for short-term, immediate need for one of its current projects. For this 100% remote role, we're happy to hear from anyone with the legal ability to work in the US. Because this role is needed to support an already in-production project, only artists with current availability should apply. This role reports to the Global Head of CG.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lighting:

• Create high-quality, photo-realistic Houdini lighting setups for CG characters, environments, props, and VFX elements.
• Translate the visual goals of the CG and VFX Supervisors into efficient, consistent lighting across shots and sequences.
• Ensure lighting setups integrate cleanly with both plate photography and full CG scenes.
• Work with Render Wranglers and CG Supervisors to optimize render times while maintaining artistic integrity.
• Collaborate with the Compositing team to troubleshoot lighting issues and ensure final renders support seamless integration.

Look Development:

• Perform look development in calibrated turntable environments using studio-approved lighting setups
• Fine-tune shaders and material properties for characters, props, and environments to achieve photoreal surface qualities
• Maintain separation between look development and shot lighting, ensuring clean upstream handoff of shaders
• Bonus: Ability to texture assets using tools like Substance Painter, Mari, or similar, to support the lookdev proces
• Work with Asset and Modeling teams to ensure clean UVs and material assignments for efficient lookdev handoff

REQUIREMENTS:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in lighting and look development for episodic TV and/or motion pictures
• Proficiency in Houdini and industry-standard render engines (VRay, Arnold, etc.)
• Deep understanding of lighting principles, photographic reference, and integration techniques
• Experience in Maya lighting a plus