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Animation Character Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

$98K - $112K/yr

WHAT MAKES US EPIC? At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building

Workman Labs

AI Craft Director (Northern)

Eastern, KY · On-site

Monks is building a talent pool for an AI Craft Director to pioneer AI-enabled creative workflows at the intersection of filmmaking, generative AI, and immersive systems, reporting to the Head of

New

Epic Games

Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

WHAT MAKES US EPIC? At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

This is a hybrid / onsite position. For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and

teamLFG

Staff Gameplay Animator

OR · On-site +1

Are you on a mission to create games that bond players together into deeply invested communities? Would you like to work on something comedic with lighthearted and whimsical characters? Do you think

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Animation Character Design information

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$9

$31

$70

How much do animation character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation character design in the United States is $31.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $38.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animation character design?

An Animation Character Design job involves creating the visual look, personality, and style of characters for animated films, TV shows, games, or commercials. Character designers develop concept art, model sheets, and expressive poses to ensure consistency and appeal. They work closely with animators, directors, and writers to bring characters to life while maintaining the project's artistic vision. Strong drawing skills, creativity, and knowledge of anatomy and storytelling are essential in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in animation character design?

To thrive in Animation Character Design, you need strong drawing abilities, a solid understanding of anatomy and movement, and a portfolio demonstrating creativity and storytelling through visuals. Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Toon Boom Harmony, as well as knowledge of 3D modeling tools, is often essential. Strong communication, flexibility, and collaboration skills help artists respond effectively to feedback and work well in team-oriented environments. These skills ensure characters are visually compelling, fit project requirements, and resonate with audiences, contributing to a project's overall success.

What are some common challenges faced by animation character designers, and how are they usually addressed on the job?

Animation character designers often face the challenge of balancing creative vision with the specific requirements of a production, such as style consistency and technical limitations. Designers regularly collaborate and communicate with directors, animators, and other team members to refine characters based on feedback and evolving project needs. Tight deadlines and frequent revisions are typical in this role, making adaptability and problem-solving skills highly valuable. Many studios foster open feedback loops and provide resources for skill development to help designers address these challenges and succeed in their roles.

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Animation Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Character Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,961 per year, or $31.2 per hour.

Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

$98K - $112K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ART
What We Do
Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for a Senior Technical Designer in Animation (TDiA) to join our team working across various animation systems. As a TDiA, you will use your animation sense and technical understanding of character animation to design and create gameplay animation systems that facilitate appealing, high-quality character motion. You will be the primary point of contact for animation implementation issues and any animation-related technical challenges, and you will work closely with Animation, Design, and Engineering colleagues to ensure the animation pipeline operates smoothly and efficiently. You will also help identify potential issues and deploy correct solutions, using your technical knowledge to help bridge and facilitate communication between the animation team and other departments.
In this role, you will
  • Create animation behavior tools/techniques/philosophies that allow the building of complex movement systems
  • Design and implement animation state machines/behaviors and runtime solutions
  • Work closely with the Animation, Design, and Engineering departments to analyze, troubleshoot, and solve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
  • Closely collaborate with the animation leadership to maintain the style and quality bar for animations in the game
  • Look for opportunities to improve the animation pipeline/workflow and help provide solutions for technical animation problems, including performing training and creating documentation for the animation team
What we're looking for
  • A strong animation sense with a clear understanding of realistic and stylized character motion and how to achieve them with modern animation methods
  • Expertise with animation pipelines, including source content creation tools such as Maya, MotionBuilder, and the Unreal Engine, using our Control Rig toolset
  • Exceptional problem-solving ability with strong written communication and teamwork skills
  • Familiarity with gameplay animation tools and concepts, such as blend trees and state machines; experience with Unreal Engine Animation Blueprints is a plus
  • Experience with AAA game development, preferably on a large team using an established game engine (internal or commercial); experience with Unreal Engine is a plus
  • Self-motivation, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently
  • Coding knowledge or experience with C++ is not required
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

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