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3D Product Modeling Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Aquent

3D Modeler

Corte Madera, CA · On-site

$65 - $66.66/hr

Craft realistic 3D assets for sophisticated soft goods, encompassing cushions, intricate tufting ... product development lifecycle. Required Qualifications * Possess a proven track record in modeling ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

Model new product ideas from sketches and scrap, including both hard surfaces and soft materials * Import CAD models into 3D software, refine, and prep for lighting & texturing * Willingness to R&D ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

$50 - $65/hr

What You'll Do: • Model new product ideas from sketches and scrap, including both hard surfaces and soft materials • Import CAD models into 3D software, refine, and prep for lighting & texturing ...

Prisms VR

3D Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$110K - $140K/yr

Ensure the product meets brand standards and expectations in all aspects. * Create and maintain ... modeling, texturing, Unity scene layout and lighting, and motion graphic animation. * Ability to ...

Intuitive Surgical

3D Artist

Sunnyvale, CA

Build real-time-ready 3D models based on the above assets * Animate, light and render scenes for various projects * Design and conceptualize visualizations of products or data for brand, training, or ...

Intuitive

3D Artist

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site +1

Build real-time-ready 3D models based on the above assets * Animate, light and render scenes for various projects * Design and conceptualize visualizations of products or data for brand, training, or ...

Intuitive

3D Artist

Sunnyvale, CA

Build real-time-ready 3D models based on the above assets * Animate, light and render scenes for various projects * Design and conceptualize visualizations of products or data for brand, training, or ...

Array Labs

3D Reconstruction Scientist

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

Today, most geospatial systems are built around flat imagery, incomplete elevation models, slow ... We design and build our satellites, radar payloads, sensing systems, and data products end-to-end.

Array Labs

3D Reconstruction Scientist

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

Today, most geospatial systems are built around flat imagery, incomplete elevation models, slow ... We design and build our satellites, radar payloads, sensing systems, and data products end-to-end.

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All Jobs3D Product Modeling Jobs3D Product Modeling Jobs in California

3D Product Modeling information

See California salary details

$52.3K

$142.2K

$202.3K

How much do 3d product modeling jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for 3d product modeling in California is $142,185.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,800.00 and $202,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a 3D product modeling?

A 3D Product Modeling job involves creating digital representations of physical products using specialized software like Blender, Maya, or SolidWorks. These models are used in industries such as e-commerce, manufacturing, gaming, and animation for product visualization, prototyping, or marketing. A 3D product modeler must have strong skills in geometry, texturing, and rendering to create realistic and accurate designs. The role often requires collaboration with designers, engineers, or marketers to ensure the final model meets functional and aesthetic requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in 3D product modeling?

To thrive in 3D Product Modeling, you need strong skills in 3D design, spatial visualization, and a solid background in industrial design or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk 3ds Max, Blender, or SolidWorks, as well as knowledge of rendering engines and, optionally, relevant certifications, are typically required. Attention to detail, creativity, effective communication, and the ability to accept and integrate feedback are essential soft skills. These capabilities are crucial for creating accurate and visually compelling product models that meet client or manufacturing specifications while fostering productive collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

What are some typical challenges faced in a 3D product modeling role?

3D Product Modeling professionals often encounter challenges such as balancing design aesthetics with real-world manufacturability and technical constraints. They may also need to manage tight deadlines while ensuring high-quality, error-free models that meet client or engineering requirements. Collaboration with engineers, designers, and marketing teams is common, and adapting to rapidly evolving software tools and workflows is essential. Addressing these challenges helps ensure that product concepts transition smoothly from digital models to tangible prototypes or finished products.

What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Product Modeling jobs in California?

The most popular types of 3D Product Modeling jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to 3D Product Modeling jobs in California?

For 3D Product Modeling jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching 3D Product Modeling jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for 3D Product Modeling jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for 3D Product Modeling jobs?

Cities in California with the most 3D Product Modeling job openings:

3D Product Modeling jobs near you
Infographic showing various 3D Product Modeling job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,185 per year, or $68.4 per hour.

Senior 3D Generalist, Product Visualization (Contract)

Skydio, Inc

San Mateo, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.
About the role:
Skydio is looking for a highly skilled Senior 3D Generalist to join our Brand Creative team for a full-time, three-month contract. This role will support the development of product imagery, illustrations, animations, and interactive 3D assets for our annual user conference keynote and other high-priority brand and product-launch initiatives. You will report to the Senior 3D Art Director and Creative Director and collaborate closely with designers, animators, product marketers, engineers, and other cross-functional partners. This is a hands-on production role for someone who can take projects from prepared product CAD through final, polished visual deliverables. You should be equally comfortable cleaning and preparing complex product geometry, building physically accurate materials, lighting photorealistic scenes, animating product features, compositing final imagery, and optimizing assets for real-time web experiences.
  • Employment Type: Full-time, 3-month contract
  • Work Authorization: We welcome every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in The United States to apply. However, at this time, Skydio does not currently offer employment-based work permits or visa sponsorship for this role.
  • Location: U.S. Remote or hybrid/onsite at our HQ in San Mateo, California.

What You'll Do:
  • Create highly photorealistic product renderings, illustrations, and animations for keynote presentations, product launches, marketing campaigns, web experiences, decks, manuals, and other brand communications.
  • Work from engineering and industrial-design CAD models to create production-ready visualization assets in Blender.
  • Prepare complex CAD-derived geometry through tessellation, topology cleanup, normal correction, mesh organization, material separation, UV creation, and scene optimization.
  • Preserve the accuracy, construction, proportions, materials, and fit and finish of Skydio hardware throughout the visualization process.
  • Build realistic, physically based materials using Blender and Adobe Substance 3D Painter.
  • Create studio-quality lighting that accurately communicates product form, surface finish, scale, and industrial-design details.
  • Produce both clean studio imagery and environmental or conceptual scenes showing Skydio products in use.
  • Create product animations that demonstrate assembly, operation, movement, workflows, features, and product interactions.
  • Composite and finish rendered imagery primarily in Adobe Photoshop, with occasional motion graphics and compositing work in Adobe After Effects.
  • Adapt product assets for multiple output formats, resolutions, aspect ratios, and campaign needs.
  • Prepare optimized real-time 3D assets for interactive product viewers, web experiences, and augmented-reality applications.
  • Export and validate assets in formats such as glTF and GLB for implementation in three.js and related browser-based experiences.
  • Optimize real-time assets through efficient topology, UV layouts, texture atlases, baked maps, level-of-detail strategies, texture compression, and thoughtful polygon and material budgets.
  • Maintain organized scenes, materials, textures, naming conventions, and file structures that can be shared and reused across the broader creative team.
  • Collaborate closely with creative leadership, incorporate feedback quickly, and deliver polished work on compressed production timelines.

Types of Deliverables:
  • Photorealistic product renderings
  • Product-launch and keynote imagery
  • Technical and illustrative product visuals
  • Product feature and assembly animations
  • Conceptual product artwork
  • Environmental and in-situ product visualizations
  • Product UI and hardware interaction visuals
  • Web-optimized glTF and GLB assets
  • Interactive 3D product-viewer assets
  • Augmented-reality-ready product assets
  • Presentation, campaign, manual, and website graphics

What Makes You a Good Fit:
  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional photorealistic visualization of consumer electronics, industrial products, automotive products, robotics, or other hard-surface products.
  • Advanced proficiency in Blender, including modeling, scene organization, shading, lighting, rendering, and animation.
  • Strong experience creating realistic hard-surface materials in Adobe Substance 3D Painter.
  • Excellent command of product lighting, composition, color, materials, and visual storytelling.
  • Experience converting engineering or industrial-design CAD data into clean, efficient, production-ready 3D assets.
  • A strong understanding of common CAD-to-DCC challenges, including dense tessellation, poor topology, shading artifacts, duplicate geometry, inconsistent normals, complex assemblies, and large datasets.
  • Strong compositing and image-finishing skills in Adobe Photoshop.
  • Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects for animation finishing, compositing, and motion-graphics integration.
  • Ability to match real-world product materials and finishes accurately, including plastics, coated metals, machined components, glass, optical surfaces, fabrics, and soft goods.
  • Experience balancing physical accuracy with the visual clarity required for marketing and brand communication.
  • Ability to work efficiently across multiple deliverable types while maintaining a consistently high level of craft.
  • Strong organizational skills and experience working with shared production assets, versioning, naming standards, and structured file systems.
  • Ability to receive direction from creative leadership, communicate progress clearly, and respond constructively to feedback.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities and deadline-driven launch work.

Primary Tools:
  • Blender
  • Adobe Substance 3D Painter
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • glTF and GLB asset workflows
  • Photogrammetry capture and asset creation workflows
  • three.js familiarity or equivalent web-based 3D experience

Portfolio Requirements:
Please include a portfolio or reel demonstrating:
  • Photorealistic hard-surface product rendering
  • Lighting and material-development skills
  • CAD-derived product visualization
  • Product animation or motion work
  • Examples of real-time, interactive, or web-optimized 3D assets, when available
  • A brief description of your individual responsibilities for collaborative projects

Compensation: This is a temporary independent contractor (1099) position with an initial contract duration of three (3) months, with the potential to extend or evolve based on business needs and mutual fit. The hourly rate range for this contract is $80.00-$90.00* per hour and will vary based on factors including skill level, relevant experience, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and geographic location. This position is not eligible for company-sponsored benefits. As an independent contractor, the individual is solely responsible for maintaining any required liability insurance, other applicable insurance coverage, benefits, and for the payment of all applicable federal, state, and local taxes. We consider qualified applicants consistent with applicable law. Background checks will be conducted in accordance with legal requirements. This contract position is subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the terms of the contractor agreement.
*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on location.
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At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.
For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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