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3D Character Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

... Fashion Design, Illustration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. * 3+ years of experience designing plush, soft goods, or 3D character products, ideally within toys ...

Imagine Staffing Technology

Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site +1

$80K - $110K/yr

... Fashion Design, Illustration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. * 3+ years of experience designing plush, soft goods, or 3D character products, ideally within toys ...

SciPlay

2D Game Artist

Austin, TX

Artists are expected to have superior talents in several artistic categories, including: illustration, graphic design, color theory, character design, with 3d skills being a plus. Responsibilities

SciPlay

2D Game Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

Artists are expected to have superior talents in several artistic categories, including: illustration, graphic design, color theory, character design, with 3d skills being a plus. Responsibilities

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT

Edit animations into cohesive final videos, including color correction, sound design, and music ... Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or ...

24 Seven Talent

Design Consultant

Denver, CO · On-site

... , 3D modeling, sculpting, rapid prototyping, or related workflows. Strong knowledge of color, materials, finishes, manufacturing, and product development. Experience creating character-driven ...

24 Seven Talent

Design Consultant

Denver, CO · On-site

... , 3D modeling, sculpting, rapid prototyping, or related workflows. Strong knowledge of color, materials, finishes, manufacturing, and product development. Experience creating character-driven ...

Leland

Animation & CGI Coach

$108K - $123K/yr

This role includes helping students develop core animation techniques and 3D modeling skills, along with more specialized areas like character design, storyboarding, motion graphics, rendering, and ...

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

Edit animations into cohesive final videos, including color correction, sound design, and music ... Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or ...

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

Edit animations into cohesive final videos, including color correction, sound design, and music ... Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or ...

William Paterson University

$2.1K/wk

Storyboarding & Production Design, Cell Animation I, 3D Character Animation, Advanced Cell Animation, Projects Drawing for Animators, and other Animation Courses. Department overview: The Department ...

Festybay

$69.79 - $95.38/hr

Work closely with character/prop rigging tools, utilize Control Rig within Unreal Engine, and ... design intents. * End-to-End Ownership: Oversee your assigned animation tasks throughout their ...

PrizePicks

Lead 3D Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site +1

Die hard sports fan Qualifications: * 5+ years of 3D design experience, with a portfolio that shows range across character, environment, and object design * Strong command of Blender (or equivalent:

Trov

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

$65 - $85/hr

Edit animations into cohesive final videos, including color correction, sound design, and music ... Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or ...

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3D Character Design information

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$10

$19

$37

How much do 3d character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d character design in the United States is $19.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $24.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is 3D character design?

3D character design is the process of creating three-dimensional digital models of characters for use in video games, animation, films, virtual reality, and other media. Artists use specialized software to sculpt, texture, and rig characters, bringing them to life with details and personality. The role often involves collaborating with other creative professionals to ensure characters fit the visual style and functionality required by a project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3D character designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Character Designer, you need strong artistic skills, knowledge of human and creature anatomy, and proficiency with 3D modeling and sculpting, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Blender, and familiarity with texturing tools like Substance Painter is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication help designers collaborate with teams and bring unique characters to life. These skills ensure that characters are visually compelling, technically sound, and fit project requirements for games, films, or other media.

How does a 3D character designer typically collaborate with other team members during a game or film project?

3D Character Designers frequently work closely with concept artists, animators, riggers, and game developers to ensure characters not only look visually appealing but also function well within the intended environment. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are common, where designers make adjustments based on input from art directors and technical leads. Collaborative platforms and project management tools are used to share assets and track progress, ensuring seamless integration of character models into the larger project. Strong communication skills and a willingness to adapt designs based on team needs are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between 3D Character Design vs 3D Modeler?

Aspect3D Character Design3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating character concepts, sketches, and detailed designsBuilding 3D models based on designs or specifications
Skills RequiredConcept art, anatomy, creativity, software like Photoshop and ZBrushModeling, topology, texturing, software like Maya, Blender
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, gaming, animation, filmAnimation studios, game development, VFX companies
Common UsageDesign phase, character developmentModel creation, rigging, optimization

While 3D Character Design focuses on conceptualizing and designing characters, 3D Modeler specializes in creating the actual 3D models based on those designs. Both roles often collaborate closely in the character development process within gaming, animation, and film industries.

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3D Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various 3D Character Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,680 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Background Paint Lead - Disney Television Animation

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA

$74.68 - $82.15/hr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Walt Disney Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 130 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 52 rated entertainment

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Background Paint Lead - Disney Television Animation

Req ID:

10159662

Job Description:

About this Role and our Studio

Disney Television Animation(DTVA)has over 40 years of legacy as a top producer of kids & family entertainment. Our work is integraltoThe Walt Disney Company, bringing Disney-branded characters and stories to families' homes across the globe.

DTVA createsboth long-form and short-form content spanningtraditional2D, rig-based 2D, CG (preschool), CG (premium), and stop-motion.We createshows ina broad range of unique and innovative styles, and we aim to match the right talent with the right production in terms of skill and artistic style.

Bysubmittingan applicationfor thisBackground Paint Leadrole, youmaybeconsideredforanyCharacter Designer positions that arise until theexpirationdate provided.

Applications submitted to this job posting will remain valid until December 31, 2026.

Whatyou willdo

This is a key leadership role that partners with the Executive Producer, Art Director Line Producer, Production and Creative Executives to execute the creative vision of theseries. The Character Design Lead will work directly with the team to ensure a quality and consistency of style throughout the series.

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Art Director to review scripts and storyboards andfor characters that need to be designed for each episode.Flag complexity issues as they arise.

  • In collaboration withthe Executive Producer and Art Director,setthe visual style of the series, creating conceptual and production artwork.

  • Ensure that the high quality and style of showestablishedby the Executive Producer andArt Director is achieved andmaintained.

  • Furtherthe storytelling process by developing the look, personality and feel of characters.

  • Capture the personality and life of a character with their design and attire.

  • Create turnarounds, special poses, mouthchartsand expression sheets and provide aclean pass of the final approved design.

  • May oversee the Character Design team,delegatingwork andmonitoringtheir schedules to create andmaintainconsistency with the design of the project

  • Communicate and problem-solve with vendor animation studio.

Required Qualifications and Skills

  • 5-7 years of experience in artistic animation production.

  • Experience leading a team preferred.

  • Ability to design and create a variety of characters, turnarounds, mouth charts, expressionsheetsand special poses.

  • Experience working withoverseesvendor studios.

  • A broad knowledge of artistic styles, latest technology and film is essential.

  • Knowledge of drawing software that includes Photoshop, Illustrator,Harmonyand 3D technology, where applicable.

  • Ability to align with style and sensibility of show.

  • Strong leadership qualities with the ability to partner with Creatives and Executives, collaborate with peers, and manage and mentor artists.

  • Positive attitudewith the ability to be flexible.

  • Excellent organizational, verbal, written, e-socialskillsand acumen.

Education

  • Bachelordegree or equivalent work experience

Location

  • This is a fully on-site role based in Glendale, CA.

The pay rate for this role in California is $74.68 to $82.15 per hour, which follows the pay scale agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The base pay actually offered may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Job Posting Segment:

Disney Branded Television

Job Posting Primary Business:

TVA Production Management

Primary Job Posting Category:

Production

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-08-31

What Walt Disney Company employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Walt Disney logo

About Walt Disney

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

Industry

Amusement, gambling, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

Social media

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