Experienced Character and Prop Designer

We are now on the hunt for experienced Character and Prop designer to work on upcoming production. We are looking for people who will join us in our quest to create the best possible animated content for our partners.  Start date approximately 23rd February 2026 (maybe a week later) and contract ending 1st May 2026 (possibility of an extension)

PLEASE NOTE: For this role, candidates may work either from our Kilkenny studio or remotely within the Republic of Ireland., there is no option to work freelance from outside of Ireland

About the role

As a character and prop designer, you will work alongside the art lead and/or assistant director / director to provide a variety of designs for characters and props.

 nd prop designer, you will work alongside the art lead and/or

We really value can-do attitudes here at Lighthouse. If you’re someone who thinks outside the box and looks for solutions, not problems, then you’ll fit right in!

What you'll be doing

Work under the art lead and/or assistant director’s guidance and supervision to develop character and prop designs.

Work to a brief and create a variety of designs for each character and prop.

Troubleshoot and adapt existing models and help the team find ways to adjust designs for ease of animation.

Assist the art lead in integrating the characters, their shapes and visual motifs to the overall style of the production.

Work as part of a design team to maximize the contributions of each designer for the production.

Create model sheets that cover the following areas:

Character turnarounds (front, back, side/profile, three-quarter views as well as any other special poses/views needed)

Character poses (full body or hands and feet only)

Face shapes and expressions

Character and Prop line-up showing the scale of all characters and props in relation to each other

Prop turn arounds (front, back, side/profile and whatever special views are required)

What we're looking for

Ability to express character emotion and attitude through drawings

Strong knowledge of anatomy, perspective, and composition

Willingness to rework material multiple times while keeping a fresh eye

Ability to work collaboratively with multiple tasks in a fast-paced production

Ability to quickly and effectively illustrate in any style required

Manage timelines ensuring work is delivered on schedule

Strong communication skills; verbal, nonverbal and written

Proficient in Microsoft office (word, excel)/Google Documents and photoshop

Professional and positive attitude

What we'll offer you

When you join Lighthouse Studios, you will be joining a diverse and multicultural crew in the beautiful neo-Gothic building of Kieran’s College, based in the heart of medieval Kilkenny. And when we say multicultural, we mean it – our crew is currently represented by over 25 different nationalities.

The studio is a hub of talent and is constantly buzzing with creativity. Working here will not only give you the opportunity to work on productions for content giants such as Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix and Warner Bros., but also to learn from some of the most talented individuals in the industry, your fellow crew members.

In addition to learning from your colleagues, you also have the opportunity to partake in our in-house learning and development programme, so you can be sure that your time at Lighthouse will be beneficial for you - not only now but for years to come. Of course, we also have many other benefits such as a pension plan, employee assistance programme, health benefits, regular crew parties and much more!

If that sounds like the kind of place you’d like to work then what are you waiting for? Apply now! 

Lighthouse Studios Limited is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, fulfilling and progressive work environment. We encourage applications from candidates with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives as it strengthens us, as individuals and as a studio. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ancestry, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable legislation. We are committed to positively supporting candidates - If we can make any reasonable accommodations for you in the recruitment process in order to give you the opportunity to perform to your best, please let us know. Any information that you provide will be used only for the purposes of providing relevant support and will have no bearing on how your application will be viewed. If you require an accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to accommodate you as best we can.