Lighting Artist (Vehicles), Manchester

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, dedicated to delivering next‑generation AAA games. CIG prides itself in thinking outside the box, encouraging creativity and developing ground‑breaking technology. CIG believes in raising the bar for the gaming industry and the gaming community as a whole.

About the Role

As a Lighting Artist on the Vehicles team at CIG, you will be joining a team responsible for lighting the incredible ships and vehicles that populate the Star Citizen universe. Star Citizen features a vast array of vessels – from nimble fighters to colossal capital ships – each requiring a distinct visual identity that brings them to life both in space and on the ground.

You will be responsible for implementing high quality and cinematic realtime lighting scenarios for Star Citizen’s vehicles, from the atmospheric glow of a cockpit interior to the dramatic exterior lighting of a ship as it moves through the varied environments of the universe. The art pillars of the game are Cinematic Sci‑Fi Realism, so you will be helping to define the mood, tone, and visual storytelling of each vessel, ensuring they showcase the artwork to the highest standard.

This is an on‑site role based at our studio in Manchester, UK.

What does a Lighting Artist (Vehicles) at CIG do?

• Create believable and cinematic lighting scenarios for ships and vehicles across the Star Citizen universe.
• Light vehicle interiors and exteriors, including cockpits, cargo bay, landing gear housings, and manufacturer‑specific design details.
• Ensure lighting works within defined realtime rendering budgets across a wide variety of vehicle types and scales.
• Work closely with the Lighting Lead, Art Director, and Vehicle Artists to ensure the artistic vision is realised consistently across the vehicle roster.
• Collaborate with technical artists, animators, and designers to support “animation ready” solutions, ensuring lighting complements moving parts such as landing gear, cargo doors, and ejection seats.
• Maintain consistency with manufacturer design cues and the broader visual language of the Star Citizen universe.

What do we expect from our Lighting Artists (Vehicles)?

• A passion for cinematic lighting, especially across hard surface and industrial subjects.
• Solid understanding of PBR materials and physically based rendering in a realtime environment.
• An eye for industrial design with the ability to work from diverse sci‑fi and real‑world references.
• An avid gamer and sci‑fi enthusiast.
• A great communicator who thrives in a collaborative, cross‑disciplinary team.

Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it’s our differences that make it special.