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Animation Developer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

Proposal Engineer

Roselle, IL ยท On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

Proposal Engineer

Roselle, IL ยท On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

Program Assistant

River Grove, IL ยท On-site

$18.50/hr

Experience in animation, script development and use of digital/social media. Excellent ... Responsibilities - The Planetarium Producer/Programmer is primarily responsible for the production ...

Program Assistant

River Grove, IL ยท On-site

$18.50/hr

Experience in animation, script development and use of digital/social media. * Excellent ... The Planetarium Producer / Programmer is primarily responsible for the production of all types of ...

Based in Chicago, this role partners across Product Design and Engineering to push the boundaries ... Working knowledge of HTML, CSS (including animations, transitions, and custom properties), and ...

Be Seen First

With our backgrounds in architecture, engineering, film and animation we were able to take our clients ideas and turn them into beautiful designs visualized in 3d. This is all created with fresh ...

Program Assistant

River Grove, IL ยท On-site

$18.50/hr

Experience in animation, script development and use of digital/social media. * Excellent ... The Planetarium Producer / Programmer is primarily responsible for the production of all types of ...

Senior UI Designer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$68 - $126/hr

Based in Chicago, this role partners across Product Design and Engineering to push the boundaries ... Working knowledge of HTML, CSS (including animations, transitions, and custom properties), and ...

Frontend Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

About the role We're hiring a Front End Engineer - not a designer who occasionally codes, and not ... Bonus: familiarity with Next.js, React Native, or motion/animation libraries (Framer Motion, GSAP)

Frontend Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$150 - $180/hr

About the role We're hiring a Front End Engineer -- not a designer who occasionally codes, and not ... Bonus: familiarity with Next.js, React Native, or motion/animation libraries (Framer Motion, GSAP)

Create 4D scheduling animations from construction schedules * Create models, renderings, and ... Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Construction Management/Engineering, or VDC perfered * Must be ...

Showing results 41-60

Animation Developer information

See Illinois salary details

$34

$56

$72

How much do animation developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation developer in Illinois is $56.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.01 and $62.40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 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.

Are animation developers in demand right now?

Animation developers are in high demand due to the growth of digital media, gaming, and entertainment industries. Skills in 3D modeling, animation software, and programming languages like Python or C++ increase employability, especially in environments requiring real-time rendering and interactive content.

What are popular job titles related to Animation Developer jobs in Illinois?

For Animation Developer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Animation Developer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Animation Developer job openings:

Technical Artist (Video Games) at DISBELIEF Chicago, IL

Downtown Boulder Partnership

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

$83 - $100/hr

Other

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Technical Artist (Video Games) job at DISBELIEF. Chicago, IL.

Job Title

Technical Artist

Type

Full time

Who We Are

Disbelief is a game development studio focusing on contracting and consulting services. Weโ€™ve worked with both AAA and independent studios to help their projects ship. Notable projects weโ€™ve worked on include Tiny Tinaโ€™s Wonderlands, Minecraft, Borderlands 3, Gears Tactics, Gears 5, and Pacific Drive.

At Disbelief we value work-life balance, and want to create an alternative to the crunch-culture prevalent in game development. We also believe strongly in investing in our talent and our team. Disbelief is a place to puzzle out the solutions to cutting-edge problems for industry leading projects, but also a place where people can grow their careers and skills as valued members of a stable and close-knit team.

Description

Currently, weโ€™re looking for a Technical Artist. This opportunity is for a full-time position in Chicago, IL. Technical Artists at Disbelief are self motivated problem solvers. Our technical artists are equally capable of discussing performance, rendering and gameplay issues with engineers, as they are in critique and creative discussion with the artist and designers. They act as a bridge between the technical and artistic aspects of game development, empowering both programming and art to achieve more than either could on their own. Our Technical Artists work in a variety of areas including scripting for tools and gameplay, modeling, materials, texturing, animation, FX, UI, and writing documentation.

At Disbelief we work with leading edge technologies to make them perform at the top of their capabilities, and we take pride in solving problems others can't. We believe a diverse team is a stronger team, and we encourage marginalized candidates to apply.

Key Responsibilities
  • Solve technical problems from an artistโ€™s point of view
  • Solve performance problems while championing visual quality standards
  • Act as a bridge between art, engineering and gameplay teams
  • Continue to explore new software and techniques, including novel solutions
  • Prototype new workflows and systems
  • Make improvements to existing pipelines as part of a team
  • Clearly communicate your work to others
  • Estimate the time it takes to complete tasks
Skills and Requirements
  • Degree in Tech Art or equivalent experience
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • 1+ years in game development, or 3+ in a related industry
  • Understanding of real time rendering
  • Experience with version control with Perforce, Git, or equivalent
  • Portfolio demonstrating AAA quality technical art ability
  • Gameplay or pipeline scripting
  • Proficiency in cross disciplinary tasks
Location

Chicago, IL

Relocation Assistance

Available where applicable

Hybrid

Technical Artists are in the office based on project needs, but can sometimes work from home. Some of our projects require access to physical infrastructure.

Visa Sponsorship

No. Disbelief does not offer visa sponsorship at the current time.

We are an E-Verify employer.

Technologies

Our DCC tools vary depending on the project, but will typically involve a combination of Houdini, Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Substance, Photoshop. Our real-time work often requires knowledge of animation, physics, material and particle systems. Primarily we work with Unreal Engine, but we also work with custom game engines. Scripting in Python, Maxscript, Mel, Javascript, C# and Unreal Blueprint is often required to solve pipeline and workflow problems.

Salary

This position has a salary range of $83,000 - $100,000. When making a job offer there are many factors that are taken into consideration at Disbelief. This includes, but is not limited to, experience and skills, comparable jobs in the industry/geographical area, and relocation benefits. Therefore the upper end of the shared salary range is oftentimes dedicated to those who showcase strong performance in the role. To learn more about how salary is determined at Disbelief please visit Open Salaries At Disbelief at

Benefits

Please visit Disbelief's company career page at to learn about the amazing benefits we offer.

Contact

Please submit resume and portfolio to jobs@disbelief.com

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