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Animation Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to ...

Arrow International, Inc

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

... animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play ... Foster collaboration across the art team, programmers, and other stakeholders. Artistic ...

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to ...

JP Morgan Chase

Training Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

You oversee end to end design, modeling, and animation, mentor and develop a high performing team of designers, and collaborate closely with instructional designers, developers, and subject matter ...

JPMorgan Chase & Co

Training Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

You oversee end to end design, modeling, and animation, mentor and develop a high performing team of designers, and collaborate closely with instructional designers, developers, and subject matter ...

powercon

VDC Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

Supervise and mentor VDC and Project Engineers , providing leadership, guidance, and oversight ... Direct the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D/3D ...

powercon

VDC Manager

Chicago, IL

$90K - $150K/yr

Supervise and mentor VDC and Project Engineers , providing leadership, guidance, and oversight ... Direct the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D/3D ...

Power Construction

VDC Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

Supervise and mentor VDC and Project Engineers , providingleadership, guidance, and oversight ... Direct the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D/3D ...

Photon

React Native Lead | Atlanta

Chicago, IL · On-site

Mentor junior developers, sharing knowledge and fostering an environment of continuous learning and collaboration. Implement cutting-edge animations and transitions to create a dynamic and engaging ...

Triton College, IL

Program Assistant

River Grove, IL · 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 ...

Photon

React Native Lead | Atlanta

Chicago, IL

Mentor junior developers, sharing knowledge and fostering an environment of continuous learning and collaboration. Implement cutting-edge animations and transitions to create a dynamic and engaging ...

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Animation Developer information

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How much do animation developer jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation developer in Chicago, IL is $60.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54.28 and $66.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 popular job titles related to Animation Developer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Animation Developer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Developer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Animation Developer jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Animation Developer job openings:
Animation Developer jobs near you

Technical Artist

NxT Level

Chicago, IL • On-site

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Remote - US and Canada only
thatgamecompany designs and develops artistically crafted, broadly accessible video games that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We respect our players and want to contribute meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire them.
We seek talent that values integrity and personal growth within an environment of intense collaboration and experimentation.
Our mission - create timeless entertainment that makes positive change to the human psyche worldwide. If you've been wanting to have a positive impact on people's lives and the creative challenges associated with doing something different and unique, then come help us shine brighter together.
Major Responsibilities
  • Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch
  • Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to support as the need arises.
  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX, and material tests.
  • Coordinate with art, technical, and studio leads to help build and maintain a high-performance art pipeline from creation to final package delivery.
  • Contribute to the unique product artistic vision holding high standards for aesthetics and technical art implementation.
  • Optimizing art content for performance.

Additional Responsibilities
  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Working in our proprietary engine, help to establish our material and vfx pipelines.
  • Document workflows and best practices for materials and vfx

Must-Haves
  • A good understanding of shaders (HLSL and/or GLSL) and ideally able to handle supporting c++ code for those prototypes or tools if required
  • Solid experience working with shader, materials and vfx in an industry standard or proprietary game engine
  • Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from concept to completion
  • Solid experience profiling and optimizing shaders and vfx on multiple platforms
  • 3-5 or more years experience as a Technical Artist
  • Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines
  • Proven experience building tools for modern art pipeline with a solid understanding of game engine scripting (ex. Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine)
  • Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx
  • Self-motivated and diligent, with established habits for tracking one's own tasks and seeking out answers when needed

Nice to Haves
  • Writing c++ code would be a plus
  • Knowing Mel, Python, Lua, C++, is a plus
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, including character and environment systems
  • Strong communication skills and a positive and professional attitude
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience in Computer Science, 3D graphics, or related field
  • Experience working with offsite art and programming teams

Perks:
  • Paid Time Off, Holidays and Two Weeks Winter Break
  • Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job-there's no waiting period before they kick in.
  • Pet Insurance for those who need it too.
  • Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
  • Pre-tax wellness stipend
  • Pre-tax work from home stipend
  • Access our savings plan (401K program) with company match
  • Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (CCA)
  • Discount portal for everyday goods and services
  • Employee inclusive and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together
  • Support for personal professional development

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