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Animation Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA

$108K - $161K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... What We Need: We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for ...

TechLink Systems

Flash - Animator

Torrance, CA · On-site

... animation and mobile content, and in object-oriented designed methodologies and programming languages is a must (e.g. ActionScript, CSV, XML, and HTML5, etc.) Bachelor's degree or equivalent in ...

TechLink Systems

Flash - Animator

Torrance, CA

... animation and mobile content, and in object-oriented designed methodologies and programming languages is a must (e.g. ActionScript, CSV, XML, and HTML5, etc.) Bachelor's degree or equivalent in ...

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... What We Need: We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for ...

Epic Games

Animation Systems Programmer

Larkspur, CA · On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for an experienced Animation Systems Programmer for our Special Projects team. As a member of our team, you will play a critical role in driving future projects ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

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All JobsAnimation Developer JobsAnimation Developer Jobs in California

Animation Developer information

See California salary details

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$57

$73

How much do animation developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation developer in California is $57.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.97 and $63.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animation Developer vs Motion Designer?

AspectAnimation DeveloperMotion Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Graphics, Animation, or related field; knowledge of programming languagesBachelor's in Graphic Design, Animation, or related field; strong design portfolio
Work EnvironmentPrimarily in tech companies, gaming, or software development; focus on interactive animationsAdvertising agencies, media, or entertainment; focus on visual storytelling and branding
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in software, gaming, and interactive media industriesCommon in advertising, film, and digital media industries

Animation Developers focus on creating interactive and programmatic animations often for digital platforms, requiring coding skills. Motion Designers primarily craft visual animations for branding, advertising, and media, emphasizing design and storytelling. While both roles involve animation, their tools, environments, and objectives differ significantly.

What are some common challenges Animation Developers face when working on cross-functional teams?

Animation Developers often collaborate closely with designers, programmers, and project managers, which can present challenges in aligning creative vision with technical constraints. Effective communication is key, as developers must interpret design briefs into functional animations while ensuring performance and compatibility across platforms. Balancing the artistic aspects of animation with optimization for different devices and game engines is also a frequent challenge. Staying adaptable and fostering open dialogue within the team can help address these issues and lead to successful project outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animation Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Developer, you need a strong grasp of animation principles, computer graphics, and programming languages like JavaScript or C++, often backed by a degree in computer science, digital media, or a related field. Proficiency with animation software such as Adobe Animate, Unity, Blender, or Maya, and familiarity with relevant APIs or frameworks, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills that help bring concepts to life and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills enable the creation of engaging, technically sound animations that meet project goals and user expectations.

What does an Animation Developer do?

An Animation Developer is responsible for creating and integrating animations into digital products like video games, apps, websites, and interactive media. They combine artistic skills with technical knowledge, using tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or Adobe Animate to bring characters and environments to life. Animation Developers also collaborate with designers, programmers, and artists to ensure smooth, visually appealing animations that enhance user experiences. Their work often involves coding, testing, and troubleshooting animations to achieve the desired effects.

Is AI replacing 3D animators?

AI tools are increasingly used to assist 3D animators by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing workflow efficiency, but they do not fully replace the need for skilled animation developers. Creativity, artistic judgment, and technical expertise remain essential in producing high-quality animations, and human oversight is crucial for complex projects. As AI advances, animators may need to adapt by learning new tools and techniques to stay competitive in the industry.

What job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

An animation developer can potentially earn $10,000 or more per month through freelance projects, contract work, or working for companies that value skills over formal education. Success often depends on a strong portfolio, proficiency in animation software, and industry experience, rather than a degree alone.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

In the US, senior animation developers with extensive experience, specialized skills in 3D modeling and rendering, or those working in high-demand industries such as gaming or film production can reach annual salaries of $300,000 or more. These roles often require advanced technical expertise, a strong portfolio, and sometimes leadership responsibilities or project management skills.

What jobs will be gone in the next 5 years?

For animation developers, roles involving traditional hand-drawn animation are declining as automation and AI tools increasingly handle such tasks. Additionally, jobs focused solely on basic 2D animation without integration of new software or techniques may decrease as industry standards evolve toward more advanced, software-driven workflows.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Developer jobs in California? For Animation Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Developer job openings:
Animation Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Developer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 31% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,056 per year, or $57.7 per hour.
Senior Simulation Animation Engineer - Special Projects

Senior Simulation Animation Engineer - Special Projects

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$130K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 666 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other's ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It's the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you'll do more than join something - you'll add something.
Description
As as Senior Simulation Animation Engineer you will have an opportunity to be part of an innovation-focused organization within Apple that is developing simulations and generating synthetic data. You will be able to work on highly ambitious and impactful simulation projects. This team has a strong focus on enabling AIML-based features and products. Our ideal team member brings experience but is also fearless when it comes to trying new things and is willing to iterate on ideas. We value team members who can quickly prototype, iterating all the way to high-quality implementations. Moreover, we value team members who can collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams across the organization.
Minimum Qualifications
4 years of professional experience.
Strong proficiency in C++ and solid software engineering fundamentals.
Knowledge of animation principles, skeletal animation, and character rigging concepts.
Experience implementing animation graphs, blend systems, runtime animation retargeting, and IK solvers.
Familiarity with profiling, optimization, and debugging in a real-time environment.
Good communication skills and ability to collaborate with animators, designers, and engineers.
Experience with a major game engine.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with USD format and tools, especially for animation
Experience in video game real time animation systems
Experience with offline animation and rendering pipelines
Experience with hair and cloth simulations

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apple logo

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

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