Jobs · Full-time

Lead Lighting Artist at Keywords Studios - Remote SEA — Columbus

LocationColumbus
CompanyKeywords Studios
Sourceworkable
Posted2026-11-05 13:10:02

Traveler-Friendly Insight

Location Flexibility: This role offers a split setup — fully remote for candidates based in Vietnam, Malaysia, or Indonesia, while Singapore requires on-site presence. This makes it a viable option for nomads already residing in Southeast Asia, particularly those with existing visas or residency in Vietnam or Malaysia.

Timezone Constraints: Game art production at a AAA studio typically involves daily standups, art reviews, and cross-discipline collaboration. Expect to work within GMT+7 to GMT+8 (Indochina / Singapore Standard Time). This limits flexibility for nomads outside the APAC region — synchronous overlap will be required most working days.

Visa Considerations: No sponsorship or relocation is offered, so you must already have the right to work in your chosen country. Popular options in this region include:

  • Vietnam: Digital nomads can use business visas (DN/DN1) or the new e-visa (90-day, extendable). Long-term stays require a work permit sponsored by a local entity.
  • Malaysia: The DE Rantau nomad pass allows up to 12 months for remote workers earning ≥ USD 24,000/year — a strong fit here.
  • Indonesia: The Second Home Visa or remote work KITAS are options, though bureaucracy can be complex.

Cost of Living: With no salary disclosed, budgeting is uncertain. That said, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City ~USD 1,200–1,800/mo) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur ~USD 1,500–2,000/mo) offer very affordable lifestyles for a senior-level income, making purchasing power strong if compensation aligns with AAA market rates.

Keywords Studios is currently looking to expand its team in Southeast Asia. We're currently looking for an accomplished, enthusiastic and self-motivated Lead Lighting Artist to join our team working on an exciting, new and unannounced project.

Keywords Studios is a global leader providing art services to AAA Publishers. Our work can be seen across many of the top-selling titles on console, PC and mobile. You'll get to work alongside seasoned developers bringing expertise from world-class AAA studios.

This position may be offered as either a permanent or fixed-term contract role, depending on the project's requirements, business needs, and the candidate's experience and level.

These opportunities can be located in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam (Remote), or Singapore (on-site). Sponsorship and relocation are not being offered as part of this package.

A Lead Lighting Artist at Keywords Studios:

  • Creates high-quality lighting that supports gameplay, narrative, mood, and artistic direction.
  • Helps establish the visual and quality bar for lighting across the project.
  • Builds, iterates, and optimises lighting setups for real-time environments and gameplay.
  • Works closely with Art Direction, Environment Art, Level Design, and Technical Art to ensure lighting supports composition, atmosphere, and gameplay readability.
  • Provides hands-on guidance, feedback, and mentoring to other artists working on lighting.
  • Develops and maintains lighting passes, post-processing setups, and related environment settings.
  • Troubleshoots lighting issues related to performance, consistency, and technical constraints across platforms.
  • Contributes to visual benchmarks and helps establish effective lighting workflows and best practices.
  • Supports planning and estimation while remaining actively involved in lighting production.

Requirements

  • Proven experience as a Senior or Lead Lighting Artist on a shipped AAA or high-quality game project.
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating lighting, composition, mood, and atmosphere.
  • Strong understanding of lighting theory, colour, exposure, and real-time rendering.
  • Proficiency with modern game engines such as Unreal, Unity, or proprietary engines.
  • Good understanding of PBR workflows and how materials respond under different lighting conditions.
  • Experience optimising lighting for real-time performance.
  • Experience mentoring or providing artistic guidance to other artists.
  • Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and iterate quickly based on feedback.
  • Experience with lighting tools, profiling, debugging, or workflow automation is an advantage.

Benefits

Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Commitment: Keywords Studios is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. If you require any adjustments during the process please let us know in your application. We are committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation. We especially welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented groups in the industry.

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY

By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice.

Role Information: EN
Studio: Keywords Studios
Location: APAC, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore
Area of Work: Art
Service: Create
Employment Type: Permanent / Contract

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Lead Lighting Artist role fully remote?
It depends on your location. Candidates based in Vietnam, Malaysia, or Indonesia can work remotely, while the Singapore-based opportunity requires on-site presence. No relocation or sponsorship is provided.
Is this a permanent job or a contract position?
The role may be offered as either permanent or fixed-term contract, depending on the project's requirements, business needs, and the candidate's experience level.
What game engine experience is required for this role?
Proficiency with modern game engines such as Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary engines is required, along with a strong understanding of PBR workflows and real-time lighting optimization.
What is the salary for this Lead Lighting Artist position?
No salary range has been disclosed in the job posting. Candidates are encouraged to discuss compensation expectations during the interview process.
Does Keywords Studios offer visa sponsorship for this role?
No — the posting explicitly states that sponsorship and relocation are not part of this package. Candidates must already have the right to work in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, or Singapore.
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