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Animation Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Tt

Computational Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Your work will span diagrams, parametric models, animations, and real-time content-bridging technical engineering concepts with engaging visual communication. This role is ideal for someone with a ...

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/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 ...

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/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 ...

Saviance Technologies

Javascript / UI Developers

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $67/hr

HTML5, CSS3, Angular JS, Bootstrap and JQuery Developer Location: Chicago, IL * HTML5 features (e.g., Web Sockets, Web Workers, Local Storage) * CSS3 features (e.g., multi-column layout, animations ...

Saviance Technologies

Javascript / UI Developers

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $67/hr

Angular JS developer Chicago IL HTML5, CSS3, Angular JS, Bootstrap and JQuery developer Expert ... Web Sockets, Web Workers, Local Storage) - CSS3 features (e.g. multi-column layout, animations ...

Arrow International Inc

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... 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 ...

Arrow International, Inc.

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL

$80 - $120K/hr

... 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 ...

Arrow International, Inc

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... 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 ...

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 ...

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All JobsAnimation Developer JobsAnimation Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Animation Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$36

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$77

How much do animation developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 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 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 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

Computational Designer

Tt

Chicago, IL • On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world's challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.

Your Role

As a Computational Designer & Visualization Specialist in our Chicago office, you will work at the intersection of structural engineering, computational design, and digital storytelling. You'll help translate complex structural systems into clear, compelling visual narratives that support design, communication, and project delivery.

Working closely with engineers, designers, and VDC teams, you'll contribute to parametric workflows, visualization strategies, and next-generation digital delivery methods. Your work will span diagrams, parametric models, animations, and real-time content-bridging technical engineering concepts with engaging visual communication.

This role is ideal for someone with a background in architecture, digital design, or computational workflows who is excited to apply creative and technical skills in a highly collaborative, engineering-focused environment.

What You'll Do

  • Support computational design, VDC, and digital modeling workflows across structural engineering projects

  • Develop and manage parametric models and workflows using Rhino and Grasshopper

  • Create diagrams, graphics, animations, and video content for internal and client-facing deliverables

  • Translate complex structural systems and construction sequences into clear visual narratives

  • Contribute to workflow development, scripting, and automation to improve modeling and visualization processes

  • Build interoperable models that connect across analysis, BIM, and visualization platforms

  • Support 4D visualization and construction sequencing workflows using timeline-driven approaches

  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance digital project delivery and communication strategies

What You'll Bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Computational Design, Digital Design, or a related field

  • 0-3 years of experience in the AEC or digital design industry

  • Strong interest in computational design, visualization, and emerging digital workflows

  • Advanced proficiency in Rhino and Grasshopper with experience building parametric workflows

  • Experience contributing to VDC, computational design, or digital modeling initiatives

  • Strong visual communication and graphic design skills, with an emphasis on clarity and storytelling

  • Experience producing animations, renderings, or digital visualizations

  • Strong collaboration, organization, and communication skills

  • Preferred: Experience with tools and workflows such as Revit; Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects); real-time visualization platforms (e.g., Enscape, Twinmotion, D5, Unreal Engine); and scripting or automation (Python, C#, or similar)

  • A portfolio showcasing relevant computational design, visualization, graphic communication, animation, or related digital work is required with the application submission.

Compensation

The rate for this position generally is$70,000-$85,000annually.This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the Illinois State Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful Illinois State applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in Illinois State or perform the position from Illinois State. Similar positions located outside of Illinois State will not necessarily receive the same compensation.Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted byIllinoisEqual Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee's pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits

Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits

  • Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare

  • Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time

  • Tuition Reimbursement

  • Commuter Transit (where available)

  • 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments

  • Fitness Reimbursement

  • And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives

Pursuant to the SanFrancisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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