Freelance: Houdini Lighting & Look Dev TD

This is a freelance position within the New York team, candidates must be available from roughly January 2027 thru March 2027.

Remote work is acceptable (from within the USA), but hybrid is encouraged and you may need to come into the office upon request. Ideal candidates will be based in the New York area, and must have valid US work authorization at time of hire. 

The Houdini Lighting & Look Development TD is in charge of creating real-world lighting environments and asset surface qualities that are both creative and physically plausible. Working closely with Supervisors and other departments, they pull every element of a shot together into a finished, believable image. This role calls for a broad, yet thorough understanding of the CG pipeline, with a specific focus on lighting and look development.

Candidates should bring a strong blend of technical and artistic skill, and a commitment to producing the highest quality CG imagery across a wide range of content.

What you’ll do

• CG scene assembly including the correct assets from applicable departments

• Lighting shots as briefed by the Visual Effects/CG Supervisor or Sequence Lead

• Creating lighting and/or working with current set ups

• Troubleshooting rendering needs and efficiencies within Arnold Render

• Staying true to provided reference from onset supervision or our VFX / CG Supervisors

• Staying on schedule and meeting set deadlines while maintaining the highest levels of quality

• Ongoing communication with Production and Supervisors

• A thorough knowledge of Houdini (Solaris / LOPs and SOPs workflows)

• Extensive knowledge of Arnold, or a similar production renderer

• Knowledge of physically plausible shading techniques

• Previous experience with shot look development

• A strong knowledge of lighting techniques

• A strong understanding of color-space

• Basic knowledge of Nuke, including how to use layers and passes to tweak a shot after it has been rendered

• Good working knowledge of other disciplines within VFX

• An understanding of Linux/Unix based operating systems

• Creative problem solving and attention to detail

• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to work within a pre-set workflow or pipeline, with the ingenuity to troubleshoot and work around issues

• Able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality results

• Able to work successfully as part of a team as well as independently

• Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Reliable, with good time management and punctuality

You might also have

• Experience working with effects elements and volume rendering

• Working knowledge of Maya for DCC interoperability and asset handoff

• Knowledge and experience in other render packages (e.g., RenderMan, Redshift)

New York Employees Pay Range:

Juniors (<1 year - 3 years experience): $23 - $35 per hour
Mids (4 - 6 years experience): $400 - $550 per day
Seniors (6+ years of experience): $600 - $900 per day

The posted range describes the minimum to maximum range for this job description in the state of New York. The range is posted in accordance with the New York Pay Transparency Bill. The range for this same position may be lower or higher in markets outside of New York City. Pay is dependent on the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

Accessibility Statement

Our New York studio is fully accessible, with step-free entry, accessible toilets on all floors, and quiet spaces available. We are committed to supporting disabled colleagues and providing an inclusive workplace for everyone.

Application Process

To apply, please complete the following application form

We review all applications manually and do not use artificial intelligence to screen candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let us know—we are happy to accommodate your needs.