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3D Graphics Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Stay hands-on: read code, review designs, ship when it matters. Qualifications * 8+ years of engineering including leadership of 3D/graphics or real-time rendering teams. * Deep React Three Fiber and ...

... designs, ship when it matters. Qualifications • 8+ years of engineering including leadership of 3D/graphics or real-time rendering teams. • Deep React Three Fiber and Three.js production ...

W is searching for a talented Motion Designer to build stunning and sophisticated motion graphics ... 3D. Advanced knowledge of After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop and other design tools to aid in ...

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Based onsite at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA we are looking ... Experience with motion graphics, video editing, or 3D rendering software is a plus * Knowledge of ...

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Based onsite at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA we are looking ... Experience with motion graphics, video editing, or 3D rendering software is a plus * Knowledge of ...

We are looking for a Sr. Graphic Designer who will lead the design of integrated marketing and ... Expertise in motion graphics and 3D design is essential. What you will do at VeSync: Campaign ...

We are looking for a Sr. Graphic Designer who will lead the design of integrated marketing and ... Expertise in motion graphics and 3D design is essential. What you will do at VeSync: Campaign ...

We are looking for a Sr. Graphic Designer who will lead the design of integrated marketing and ... Expertise in motion graphics and 3D design is essential. What you will do at VeSync: Campaign ...

Graphic Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$55K - $80K/yr

Experience creating motion graphics or animation. * Experience with 3D design, rendering, or ... Previous experience designing for live events, entertainment, sports, or other high-energy audience ...

Embedded Software Engineer 2

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$148K - $194K/yr

Overview We are seeking a full-time Embedded Software Engineer - 3D Graphics , for Garmin ... The work involves designing, developing, testing, and maintaining graphics technologies integral to ...

Showing results 41-60

3D Graphics Designer information

See California salary details

$14

$36

$67

How much do 3d graphics designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d graphics designer in California is $36.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27.50 and $41.97 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a 3D graphics designer?

A 3D Graphics Designer is a creative professional who uses specialized software to create three-dimensional models, animations, and visual effects for various media, such as video games, movies, advertisements, and product visualizations. Their work involves developing detailed textures, lighting, and rendering to bring digital scenes and objects to life. 3D Graphics Designers often collaborate with other artists, engineers, or clients to achieve the desired look and functionality for a project. They need both artistic and technical skills to turn concepts into visually engaging digital content.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3D graphics designer?

To thrive as a 3D Graphics Designer, you need expertise in 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering, usually backed by a degree in graphic design, visual arts, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, and Adobe Creative Suite is typically required. Strong creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help designers collaborate and bring complex concepts to life. These abilities ensure high-quality visual output, efficient project execution, and strong alignment with client or project objectives.

What are some common challenges 3D graphics designers face when working on collaborative projects?

3D Graphics Designers often work closely with teams including animators, developers, and project managers, which can present challenges in aligning creative visions and technical requirements. Communication is key, as misinterpretations can lead to design revisions or project delays. Additionally, balancing artistic creativity with client or project specifications, and managing feedback from multiple stakeholders, requires strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Staying updated on evolving software and industry standards is also essential for seamless collaboration.

How much does a 3D graphics designer make?

A 3D graphics designer's salary varies based on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $50,000 to $85,000 annually in the United States. Senior designers with advanced skills in software like Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max can earn higher salaries, especially in specialized fields such as gaming, film, or virtual reality.

Is 3D Graphics Designer a good career?

A 3D Graphics Designer is a viable career choice for those with strong artistic skills and proficiency in software like Blender or Maya. The field offers opportunities in industries such as gaming, film, and advertising, with job prospects improving as demand for visual content grows. Success often requires continuous learning and portfolio development.

What cities in California are hiring for 3D Graphics Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most 3D Graphics Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various 3D Graphics Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,631 per year, or $36.4 per hour.

Graphics Compositing UI Rendering Engineer, Graphics, Games, & ML

Cupertino, CA

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

$184K - $324K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 16 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Apple's Compositing, Color, and Display Software organization provides the graphics software foundation for all of Apple's innovative products, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Apple Watch. Our goal is to enable developers and HI designers to create exceptional visual experiences by efficiently utilizing hardware acceleration and color technologies through compositing and display. The technologies we develop are central to enabling enhanced experiences across our platforms, including acceleration for Liquid Glass UI material and presenting HDR content with the highest quality.
Are you passionate about building the rendering technologies that make interfaces feel alive? Do you get excited about solving complex graphics challenges to deliver beautiful, responsive experiences at scale? If creating world-class visual experiences through innovative rendering architecture energizes you, this is your opportunity.
Description
We're looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer with deep rendering expertise to join our UI Rendering team. In this role, you'll drive key aspects of the Core Animation graphics compositing and rendering engine that powers visual experiences across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. You'll architect and build the graphics technologies that bring our user interfaces to life, from foundational compositing systems to cutting-edge visual effects.
Working at the heart of our graphics stack, you'll bridge the gap between creative vision and technical reality. You'll partner directly with HI designers to prototype and productize new visual concepts, collaborate with framework engineers to expose powerful rendering capabilities, and work alongside our Metal and GPU teams to unlock the full potential of Apple Silicon. From next-generation material systems to sophisticated animation techniques, you'll shape the visual foundation that defines how millions experience Apple products every day.
Responsibilities:
* Design, architect, and implement Core Animation UI rendering features and compositing technologies across all Apple platforms
* Partner with HI designers and framework teams to enable new visual experiences and design language evolution
* Collaborate with Metal graphics framework and GPU and Display teams to leverage and influence platform capabilities for rendering innovation
* Make critical technical decisions balancing visual quality, implementation complexity, and platform constraints
* Develop tools and workflows that enable rapid iteration from design concept to production-ready rendering features
* Ensure rendering quality, correctness, and visual fidelity across diverse content and platform configurations
* Contribute to long-term technical strategy and influence hardware/software roadmaps to enable future rendering capabilities and visual experiences
* Optimize rendering performance and power efficiency across Apple's diverse hardware ecosystem
","responsibilities":"Working closely with HI team and higher-level UI Frameworks (UIKit, AppKit, SwiftUI) to implement such effects using state-of-the-art 3d graphics API for hardware acceleration on GPU and other acceleration engines on Apple Silicon Performance and power optimizations to provide responsive UI and great user interaction experience across all Apple devices
Debug UI rendering or performance/power/memory issues and support continuous integration effort to maintain quality
Preferred Qualifications
Deep expertise with Metal Shading Language and advanced graphics programming
Knowledge of compositing algorithms, color management, HDR, and wide color gamut workflows
Experience with CPU/GPU synchronization and multi-threaded rendering architectures
Experience with client/server or multi-process graphics architectures
Experience with Mac or iOS application development using Swift or Objective-C
Familiarity with GPU profiling tools and performance optimization for mobile platforms
Experience shipping consumer graphics products at scale
Experience with automated testing frameworks for graphics rendering
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years of experience in software development, including software release management and integration processes
3+ years of experience with real-time rendering and computer graphics
Strong background in C/C++ programming and shader development
Hands-on experience with Metal or modern graphics APIs (Vulkan, DirectX)
Experience with layer-based rendering systems or scene graph architectures
Foundational understanding of Operating Systems, Computer Architecture, and CPU/GPU programming including memory subsystems
Strong debugging and triaging skills for complex, multi-layered systems issues
Experience with graphics performance analysis and optimization techniques
Excellent collaboration skills with cross-functional teams on complex large-scale projects
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

What Apple employees say

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976