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With a rich history of developing multiple AAA franchises such as Little Big Planet and Crackdown, as well as contributing to genre-defining titles like the Forza Motorsport and Hitman series, Sumo Sheffield's vast development experience spans multiple genres and platforms.

As winners of the TIGA Star Employment Award for 2021, recipients of the GI Biz 2020 Best Places to Work Award and listed as one of the UK's 100 Best Large Companies to Work for in 2021 and 2022, Sumo Digital has enjoyed 20 years of stability and growth since its formation in 2003 and continues to strive for excellence across every single project.

The team have a track record of working on some of the world's biggest and best games and received two BAFTAs for their work on Sackboy: A Big Adventure. As the scale and exclusivity of projects continues to grow, there's never been a more exciting time to join the Sumo Sheffield family!

The role @ Sumo Sheffield

Sumo Sheffield has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lighting Director who will be a core pillar of the art leadership team, helping to determine and realise the final look and feel of our stunning environments.

Within this role, you will direct the creation, design and implementation of lighting for our environments and cinematics across multiple AAA gaming projects. Working with Art Directors, Discipline Directors and the Central Art Team you will lead on the development of styles and looks for pre-production and pitches, while collaborating with the Art and Engineering teams to develop tools and pipelines.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead, develop and grow the gameplay animation team at Sumo Sheffield. The post holder will work at a studio level to support 4-5 projects simultaneously alongside the Central Art Leadership team.

This position is open to remote, hybrid and in-studio working (within the UK, international remote working may be considered on a case by case basis).

Within this role you will:

• 
  Direct Lighting across multiple projects varying in style and scope across the studio.
• Have an eye for the future and how we push Lighting art and techniques forward at the studio. Directing innovation and keeping up to date with the latest techniques and innovations.
• Review the creation and implementation of Lighting with a focus on quality.
• Direct the production of high-quality Lighting Art across all projects.
• Lead, coach and mentor team members of the Lighting team and create a strong pathway for progression and internal succession within the team.
• Communicate effectively within a large group/multiple project environment.

We will need you to have:

• Must have a minimum of 7 years production working on AAA games.
• Strong Leadership experience managing teams across multiple project types and scopes.
• Strong understanding of physical shaders and their interaction with lighting and post FX.
• Strong sense of lighting theory including exposure, artificial and natural light, reflections and colour temperature.
• Strong abilities in real-time rendering and post FX in a physically based pipeline.
• Knowledge of shaders, materials and textures and their impact on lighting.
• Understanding the use of lighting in gameplay to guide the player path and highlight objectives.
• Ability to balance visual quality, design needs and performance requirements.
• Experience in Unreal 4 / Unreal 5.

On application, please include your current CV and any relevant portfolio/showreel content.

What we offer:

. Defined Annual Bonus Scheme

. ULEV car scheme

. Monthly allowance to spend on enhancing benefits

. Salary Sacrifice Pension

. Flexible Working

. 21 days free-use holiday

+ your birthday off

+ 5 learning days including 1 volunteer day

+ a duvet day

+ Christmas shutdown from Christmas Eve to New Year

+ Bank Holidays

+ extra allowance accrued for longer service

. Free dental insurance

. Life Assurance 4x Salary

. Income Protection of 75% for 5 years

. Enhanced Mat/Paternity & Adoption pay

. Employee Assistance Programme:

. Help at Hand - Remote GP, Mental Health & Physio appointments

. Free financial & home buying support consultations

. Cycle to Work Scheme

. Payroll Giving Scheme

. Access to 4,000 Udemy Courses

. Career Development Pathway

. Wrap Parties.

. Project Completion Awards

. Game/Creative Jams

. Big Family Events

. Studio social activities, e.g. running, board games, film, yoga, life drawing...

. Prism - Sumo's employee diversity focus group

. Free fruit and drinks in our studios

. Employee Referral Bonus

Where do we stand on diversity?

At Sumo, we want to enable everyone to bring their full, authentic selves to work every single day. We acknowledge that the games industry is far from perfect and a global organisation with people all over the world, from all kinds of backgrounds, we know it's part of our duty to provide everyone at Sumo with a safe, accepting and affirming working environment.

We encourage and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

More about Sumo Sheffield

Sumo Sheffield is located just outside the city centre in Sumo Digital's HQ, just off J34 on the M1 and a stone's throw from the city's primary shopping and leisure complex. With a multi-building campus comprised of industry-leading facilities, an onsite gym and subsidised canteen, Sumo Sheffield provides everything needed for all teams to create the world's best games.

Sheffield is the fifth largest city in the UK and is easily accessible by road and rail from Leeds, Manchester and the Midlands. The city enjoys a wealth of facilities to suit a wide array of interests, including:

o World-class sports facilities

o Iconic theatres and galleries

o Multiple retail and shopping experiences

o Diverse and renowned restaurants and eateries

o The award-winning National Video Game Museum

More about Sumo Digital

Sumo Digital is an award-winning international family of studios. Recent releases from Sumo Digital studios include: BAFTA-Award winning Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Hood: Outlaws & Legends, Control Ultimate Edition on Google Stadia, Apple Arcade Award-winning Little Orpheus, Hot Shot Racing, WST Snooker and Spyder.

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