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3D Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... 3D immersive digital experiences- all created by our global community of developers and creators ... Partner with engineers to prototype and guide the development of our movement and rigging systems

Solid asset building skills, including modeling and texturing and some rigging. * Ability to develop, execute, light, render and test comp FX. * Strong understanding of lighting/shading/texturing ...

Technical Artist

San Francisco, CA

$149K - $179K/yr

Experience with game engines or real-time 3D workflows * Familiarity with physics-ready assets, rigging, articulation, collision, or procedural workflows * Experience creating 3D content for AI ...

Senior 3D Artist, Technical

San Mateo, CA

$144K - $173K/yr

Partner with engineers to prototype and guide the development of our movement and rigging systems * Be a subject matter expert on animation and animation technology who cultivates a comprehensive ...

CAD Designer/Detailer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

You will design from the ground up and/or translate 3D conceptual renderings into exact, production ... Floor, Electrical, & Rigging Plans: Create accurate scaled layouts and show-service diagrams.

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3D Rigging information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$36

How much do 3d rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d rigging in California is $25.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.79 and $29.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a 3D Rigging artist?

A 3D Rigging artist typically spends their day creating and refining digital skeletons and control systems that animators use to bring characters and objects to life. This involves working closely with modelers and animators to ensure rigs meet project requirements and adjusting rigs based on feedback or animation needs. The role often includes troubleshooting technical issues, developing custom scripts or tools to improve workflow efficiency, and conducting regular rig maintenance. Collaboration and communication are central, as rigs must integrate smoothly with the broader pipeline to support high-quality animation production.

What is a 3D Rigging job?

A 3D Rigging job involves creating the skeletal structure and controls that allow 3D characters or objects to move realistically in animation and gaming. Riggers build rigs with joints, bones, and deformers that animators use to manipulate movements. They ensure flexibility, smooth deformations, and proper weight distribution for lifelike animations. Rigging requires knowledge of anatomy, movement mechanics, and software like Maya or Blender. It's a crucial step in the animation pipeline, bridging modeling and animation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the 3D Rigging position, and why are they important?

To excel in 3D Rigging, candidates need a thorough understanding of anatomy, animation principles, and strong proficiency in 3D modeling software such as Maya or Blender, often supported by a relevant degree or certification in animation or computer graphics. Expertise in technical tools like Autodesk Maya, Python scripting for automation, and familiarity with deformation systems are crucial for creating efficient and versatile rigs. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help riggers collaborate with animators, modelers, and technical artists. These skills are essential for building rigs that deliver smooth and realistic character movement while enabling a streamlined workflow within production teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Rigging jobs in California? The most popular types of 3D Rigging jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for 3D Rigging jobs? Cities in California with the most 3D Rigging job openings:
Infographic showing various 3D Rigging job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 9% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.
Technical Artist: Avatar Systems

Technical Artist: Avatar Systems

Genies, Inc.

San Francisco, CA

$149K - $179K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 9 hours ago


Job description

Genies is an AI avatar technology company powering the visual and embodiment layer for AI. Through the Genies SDK, their proprietary avatar framework brings AI to life as fully realized AI personas that look, think, behave, and play like living identities. Genies powers AI companion, NPC, and agent use cases across enterprise, consumer, creator, entertainment, and gaming. Genies has raised $200M from Silver Lake, BOND, and Bob Iger. Genies is built on the belief that every website, app, game, brand, and human will have an AI persona.
Genies is seeking a Technical Artist: Avatar Systems to help build the next generation of avatar creation tools. This role blends deep expertise in character rigging, geometry processing, and real-time pipelines with experience in AI-assisted workflows. You'll advance the development of modular avatar systems and scalable pipelines that enable highly customizable, production-ready avatars across platforms, working at the intersection of art, engineering, and machine learning.
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Design, build, and extend avatar systems using modular components, automated rigging, and AI-assisted workflows
  • Develop and scale cloud-based rigging and deformation systems for interoperable avatars and assets
  • Apply procedural and machine learning techniques to solve complex problems in asset creation, processing, and customization
  • Integrate generative AI into internal and public-facing 3D content pipelines
  • Partner with ML engineering, art, and product to prototype and ship tools and workflows across mobile, browser, and game engine environments
  • Define technical standards, benchmarks, and best practices across systems and pipelines
  • Mentor senior team members and drive technical direction across projects

What You Should Have:
  • 10+ years of experience in Technical Art, Character TD, or similar roles
  • Strong programming skills in Python and C++
  • Deep experience with character rigging, skinning, and deformation systems
  • Experience transferring rigging data across meshes (skin weights, blend shapes, UVs, textures)
  • Strong foundation in 3D math, linear algebra, and mesh topology
  • Proven experience building scalable, production-grade pipelines and tools
  • Experience applying procedural and machine learning techniques to 3D workflows, including computational geometry and implicit/neural representations (e.g., SDFs, Gaussian splatting)
  • Experience applying USD composition concepts (layering, references, payloads, variants) within asset pipelines and workflows
  • Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, ML, art, and product teams

Excellent to Have:
  • Familiarity with open-source geometry processing libraries (Python/C++)
  • Experience with 2D/3D segmentation, feature detection, and pose estimation
  • Experience with procedural dynamics systems (cloth, secondary motion)
  • Familiarity with AI-based 3D generation (diffusion, GANs, VAEs, etc.)

How Genies will support you
  • Competitive salary and equity packages
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Parental leave
  • Hybrid work structure (minimum 4 days in office weekly)
  • Monthly wellness reimbursement

Genies is a well-funded, fast-growing start-up that values innovation, creativity, and ownership. Our roles and their responsibilities are created with a breadth of scope that introduces each employee to exciting new challenges and opportunities that a growing start-up encounters. The actual base pay is dependent upon a number of factors, including: professional background, training, transferable skills, work experience, education, location, business and product needs, and market demand. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
These are for our full time, benefits eligible positions