Deck13 Interactive is hiring Senior Lighting Artist

At Deck13 Interactive , we believe that lighting is the silent narrator of a video game. It is the bridge between a static environment and an emotional experience. From the claustrophobic, flickering corridors of The Surge to the epic, sun-drenched ruins of Atlas Fallen, our lighting artists are responsible for defining the soul of our titles.

As a Senior Lighting Artist , you are a master of atmosphere. You understand that “realism” is often secondary to “mood.” Your quest is to use light, shadow, and color to guide the player’s eye, highlight the path forward, and evoke a sense of wonder or dread. Joining our team of 100 creators in the heart of Frankfurt, you will help us push the technical and artistic boundaries of Unreal Engine 5 to create the next generation of unforgettable gaming experiences.

Studio Name Deck13 Interactive GmbH

Seniority Level Senior (5+ Years Experience)

Primary Tech Stack Unreal Engine 5 (Lumen, Nanite, Blueprints)

Work Model Hybrid (Frankfurt Office) or 100% Remote (within Germany)

The figures below represent estimated industry standards for the Frankfurt region for senior-level artistic roles within AA/AAA development.

Position Tier Annual Base Salary (Est.) Monthly Net (Approx. Class I)

Net salary varies based on German tax class and health insurance selections.

Your role is holistic. You aren’t just placing lights; you are crafting a visual language that communicates directly with the player.

Atmospheric World Building

You will create dramatic and atmospheric lighting setups where the primary focus is conveying a specific mood. You will balance the “Rule of Cool” with technical logic, ensuring that the artistic vision remains front and center. This involves managing Global Illumination, local light sources, and post-processing effects to achieve a cohesive look.

Holistic Visual Integration

A great lighting artist looks at the “big picture.” You will work on level geometry and skyboxes when required to ensure consistency across various game regions. You are responsible for ensuring the transition from an interior dungeon to an expansive outdoor world feels natural yet visually striking.

Performance Optimization

Unreal Engine 5 offers incredible power, but with great power comes the need for optimization. You will balance visual fidelity with frame-rate targets. You’ll find smart, efficient ways to achieve high-end visuals without overtaxing the hardware, working within the constraints of console and PC specifications.

Collaborative Storytelling

You will sit at the intersection of several departments:

• Environment Art: To ensure textures and materials react correctly to light.
• Game Design: To ensure critical paths and interactable objects are legible through lighting.
• VFX: To synchronize environmental lighting with explosive effects or magic abilities.
• Engineering: To help document and refine the lighting pipeline for better studio efficiency.

Your Toolkit: Qualifications

We value your artistic potential as much as your technical history. If you are a lighting wizard who doesn’t check every single box but has a portfolio that speaks volumes, we want to see it.

Requirements:

• Experience: 5+ years in game development with a specific focus on lighting. You should have at least one shipped title under your belt (PC or Console).
• Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 lighting tools. You should be familiar with Lumen, baked lighting workflows, and Blueprints for dynamic lighting events.
• PBR Workflow: A solid understanding of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) and how light interacts with different surface properties.
• Artistic Eye: A mastery of color theory, composition, and “cinematic” lighting. You can tell a story using only the contrast between light and shadow.
• Mindset: A positive, solution-oriented attitude. You view technical constraints as puzzles to be solved rather than roadblocks.
• Experience with custom shaders and advanced rendering techniques.
• Familiarity with visual scripting to create interactive or time-of-day lighting systems.
• Prior experience in team management or mentoring junior artists.

Why Deck13?

Our people are our most valuable resource. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits to ensure you can focus on your craft while feeling supported in your personal life.

• Deutschlandticket: We provide a monthly allowance for the national “D-Ticket,” giving you unlimited regional transit across all of Germany.
• Remote Support: A monthly allowance to help cover costs if you choose to work from home.
• Probonio Vouchers: Tax‑free monthly vouchers for local shopping and dining.
• Mental Health: Free access to Bloom , an online mental health platform for therapy and coaching.
• Fitness: Monthly allowances for gym memberships to keep you active.
• Time Off: 28 days of vacation, plus we give everyone the 24th and 31st of December off to spend with loved ones.

Growth & Culture

• Learning Budget: A yearly budget dedicated to your professional development—use it for conferences, workshops, or specialized software training.
• Language Courses: Free German or English courses to help you feel at home in Frankfurt or improve your professional communication.
• The Office: A modern, sunlit office in Frankfurt near the Messe, perfectly located for local food and easy commuting.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

Deck13 is an equal opportunity employer. In our studio, diversity isn’t a buzzword; it’s our strength. We believe that a team comprised of different races, genders, religions, and backgrounds creates richer, more empathetic games.

According to recent industry data (2025/2026), the German game development workforce is becoming increasingly global, with over 30% of professionals coming from international backgrounds and a rising representation of women and non-binary individuals in senior technical roles (approx. 24%). We are committed to pushing these numbers further by fostering a workplace where every “characteristic that makes you unique” is celebrated.

How to Apply

Ready to light the way? Please submit your Resume and a link to your Portfolio/ArtStation . We are looking for portfolios that showcase a range of moods—from high‑fantasy magic to gritty sci‑fi realism.