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Animation Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

M&S Consulting

3D Animator

Pasadena, CA · Remote

... engineering or scientific concepts into clear visual narratives * Iterate efficiently based on creative and technical feedback Required Skills: * Strong portfolio demonstrating cinematic 3D animation ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

Partnering with cross-discipline leads (design, engineering, art, production) to align animation with gameplay systems, technical realities, and the overall player experience. * Owning combat feel ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA

Partnering with cross-discipline leads (design, engineering, art, production) to align animation with gameplay systems, technical realities, and the overall player experience. * Owning combat feel ...

Progressive Gaming

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts from concept to final implementation ... Working closely with Game Designers, Engineers, Technical Artists, and Art peers, you will drive a ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

... animation systems * Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback ...

IGT

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts from concept to final implementation ... Working closely with Game Designers, Engineers, Technical Artists, and Art peers, you will drive a ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

... animation systems * Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback ...

Progressive Gaming

Animator

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$114K - $141K/yr

Collaborate with designers, engineers, and artists to define and execute creative vision * Bring ... Strong portfolio/reel showcasing animation, timing, and visual storytelling * Expertise in 2D/3D ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

... animation systems * Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback ...

IGT

Animator

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$114K - $141K/yr

Collaborate with designers, engineers, and artists to define and execute creative vision * Bring ... Strong portfolio/reel showcasing animation, timing, and visual storytelling * Expertise in 2D/3D ...

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Animation Developer information

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How much do animation developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation developer in the United States is $58.49, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.64 and $64.42 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.

How much do Disney animators get paid?

Disney animators' salaries vary based on experience and role, but entry-level animators typically earn around $60,000 to $80,000 annually, while more experienced or senior animators can earn over $100,000. Compensation often includes benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, and proficiency in industry-standard tools like Maya or Toon Boom is common.

Is there a high demand for animators?

The demand for animation developers is strong across industries such as entertainment, gaming, and advertising, driven by increasing digital content creation. Skills in software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender, along with a strong portfolio, can enhance job prospects as companies seek skilled animators to produce engaging visual content.

What is the highest paid animation job?

The highest paid animation jobs are typically senior roles such as Lead Animator, Animation Director, or VFX Supervisor, especially in film, television, or gaming industries. These positions often require extensive experience, advanced skills in software like Maya or Houdini, and leadership responsibilities, with salaries reaching six figures or more depending on the project and location.

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.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney Animation Studios has largely shifted focus from traditional 2D animation to 3D computer-generated imagery, but they occasionally hire 2D animators for specific projects or legacy work. Opportunities for 2D animation roles are limited and often require strong skills in traditional techniques and relevant software like Toon Boom or Adobe Animate.
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Animation Developer jobs near you
Senior Simulation Machine Learning Engineer - Special Projects

Senior Simulation Machine Learning Engineer - Special Projects

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$128K - $177K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 670 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Play a role in bringing Apple technology to the world. We are looking for a hardworking, dedicated, and results-oriented Animation Engineer. You would join a team building simulation art assets. 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 a Senior Simulation Machine Learning Engineer, you will join an innovation-driven team advancing Apple's simulation and synthetic data technology to support a wide range of AI/ML initiatives. You will design, prototype, and productionize systems that generate high-quality 3D scenarios and multi-modal synthetic datasets used throughout Apple's ML ecosystem.
We're looking for an engineer with deep experience, strong ML intuition, and the ability to turn ambitions into robust tools. You should be comfortable exploring new ideas, iterating quickly, and driving solutions from prototype to polished implementation. Collaboration is essential - you will partner closely with engineers, animators, technical artists, and ML researchers across the organization. You will play a key role in shaping Apple's next generation of AI/ML capabilities by defining how simulation data is generated, validated, and delivered at scale.
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years of professional experience in ML, simulation, graphics, or related fields.
Strong proficiency in Python and modern machine learning techniques.
Working knowledge of C++ and robust software engineering fundamentals.
Experience with LLMs, VLMs, diffusion models, world models, or similar generative/modeling frameworks.
Experience with 3D data, scene representations, and rendering fundamentals.
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills are key.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with USD format and tools
Experience with neural rendering, 3D generative models, learned simulation techniques.
Experience guiding technical direction, influencing architecture in a software engineering team
Understanding of real-time and offline rendering pipelines.
Experience with animation
Experience with complex industrial or commercial simulation systems or large-scale data generation workflows.

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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