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Animation Director Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Rushdown Studios

Lead Gameplay Systems Engineer

OR · On-site +1

$145K - $165K/yr

Professional experience leading a team, either through direct leadership or mentorship of less ... animation, game design, and narrative design). * Understanding of various Unreal Engine ...

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OR · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

... Director of Digital Marketing and Video. You'll edit across the full range of our video output ... Proficiency in animation and motion graphics using After Effects, Motion, or similar tools

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All JobsAnimation JobsAnimation Director JobsAnimation Director Jobs in Oregon

Animation Director information

See Oregon salary details

$11.6K

$182.4K

How much do animation director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation director in Oregon is $180,795.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $180,800.00 and $180,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Animation Director, you need a strong background in animation principles, storytelling, visual design, and often a degree in animation or related fields. Proficiency with animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, Toon Boom, or Blender, along with experience in project management tools, is typically required. Leadership, creative vision, and excellent communication are essential soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with clients or stakeholders. These skills ensure cohesive, high-quality animations delivered on time, aligned with the project's creative goals.

What are some common challenges Animation Directors face when leading a team on a large project?

Animation Directors often encounter challenges such as aligning the creative vision across a diverse team, managing tight production schedules, and ensuring consistent animation quality throughout the project. Balancing creative input from animators, storyboard artists, and producers while adhering to budget and time constraints can be demanding. Effective communication, regular feedback sessions, and strong organizational skills are essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering a cohesive final product.

What Do Animation Directors Do?

An animation director is responsible for performing and overseeing a number of creative duties during the design, production, and post-processing of an animation. You may work at a film studio or video game company, collaborating with writers, illustrators, and visual designers to develop stories and graphics, and to define guiding aesthetic principles. You work closely with voice actors, animators, and sound design artists to create the final product, such as an animated movie, web short, TV show, or animation for a website.

What does an animation director do?

An animation director oversees the creative and technical aspects of an animation project, guiding the animation team to ensure the visual style and storytelling meet the project's goals. They review and approve animation work, coordinate with other departments, and often use tools like Maya or Adobe After Effects. Strong leadership, communication skills, and a solid understanding of animation principles are essential for this role.

How much does an animation director get paid?

Animation directors typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the studio. Senior animation directors or those working on major projects can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with bonuses and benefits. Strong skills in animation software and leadership are important for higher pay levels.

What is the difference between Animation Director vs Animation Supervisor?

AspectAnimation DirectorAnimation Supervisor
ResponsibilitiesOversees the overall animation style, guides creative vision, and manages animation teams to ensure consistency and quality.Manages day-to-day animation production, assigns tasks, and ensures deadlines are met within the animation team.
Required SkillsStrong artistic vision, leadership, and experience in animation production.Technical expertise, team management, and workflow coordination.
Work EnvironmentCreative leadership in studios, overseeing multiple animation projects.Supervisory role within animation teams, often reporting to the Animation Director.

The Animation Director focuses on the creative and artistic vision of the animation, guiding the overall style and quality. The Animation Supervisor handles the operational aspects, managing the team to meet production goals. Both roles are essential in animation production, with the Director setting the creative tone and the Supervisor ensuring smooth execution.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney Animation still employs 2D animators, particularly for projects that preserve traditional animation styles. While the industry has shifted toward 3D animation, some departments and productions continue to seek skilled 2D artists familiar with software like Toon Boom and Adobe Animate.

What are Animation Directors?

Animation Directors are creative professionals who oversee the visual development and production of animated projects such as films, TV shows, or video games. They manage teams of animators, guide the artistic direction, and ensure that the animation aligns with the project's vision and story. Animation Directors collaborate closely with producers, writers, and other departments to maintain consistency and quality throughout the animation process. Their role is crucial in bringing characters and worlds to life in a cohesive and engaging manner.

How can I become an animation director?

To become an animation director, you typically need a bachelor's degree in animation, film, or a related field, along with several years of experience in animation or visual effects. Developing strong leadership skills, a solid portfolio showcasing your work, and proficiency with animation software like Maya or Adobe After Effects are essential for advancing to this role.
More about Animation Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation jobs in Oregon? The most popular types of Animation jobs in Oregon are:
What are popular job titles related to Animation Director jobs in Oregon? For Animation Director jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Director jobs in Oregon look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Director jobs in Oregon are:
What cities in Oregon are hiring for Animation Director jobs? Cities in Oregon with the most Animation Director job openings:
Animation Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Director job openings in Oregon as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 39% As Needed, 42% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Nights. Highlights an 69% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $180,795 per year, or $86.9 per hour.
Lead Gameplay Systems Engineer

Lead Gameplay Systems Engineer

Rushdown Studios

OR • On-site, Remote

$145K - $165K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Founded by games industry veterans, Rushdown was created with a simple philosophy in mind: We believe that when talented developers are consistently challenged and given clear ownership of their work, extraordinary things will happen. As a co-dev game studio, we now focus on solving some of the most difficult problems that face multiplayer games - and we bring our experience working on games like PUBG, League of Legends, and Rocket League with us. We truly love the work we do and we want to funnel our passion and expertise into features and games that billions of players will enjoy worldwide.

Our Role

Rushdown Studios is looking for a Lead Gameplay Systems Engineer to join us in support of our partner studio! In this role, you'll develop and maintain a variety of gameplay features and systems pertaining to player experience, character progression, and creator workflows.

Our ideal candidate is a self-motivated and demonstrated leader with the ability to juggle and jump between different tasks as necessary, including mentoring other team members working across a range of projects. Prior game development experience is required for this role, but we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements listed below!

Work Location: Rushdown Studios is based in Saratoga Springs, NY and we have a strong preference for local candidates willing to work from our office on a hybrid basis (i.e., Tuesday-Thursday) or fully remote candidates in the Eastern United States. However, we're always open to expanding our list of remote-eligible states for the right candidate, as well.

Responsibilities

  • Integrate backend services with the game client using C++.
  • Develop a wide variety of features for games utilizing Unreal Engine.
  • Ensure backend APIs are used efficiently and data is cached properly in the client.
  • Build tools that enable designers to easily work with and configure online systems.
  • Estimate and prioritize a backlog of existing features, bugs, and tech debt.
  • Solve crashes and other problems on both PC and console.
  • Partner with designers to iterate on features and optimize for a smoother player experience.
  • Collaborate with external programmers to integrate new features for multiplayer games and ensure their features run as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Requirements

  • Six (6) years of professional experience working on multiplayer games in C++, including recent experience developing games in Unreal Engine (e.g., UE4, UE5).
  • Professional experience leading a team, either through direct leadership or mentorship of less-experienced team members.
  • Background designing gameplay systems for live-service games.
  • Familiarity with non-engineering workflows and the ability to partner with various disciplines (e.g., art, animation, game design, and narrative design).
  • Understanding of various Unreal Engine technologies, such as the Gameplay Ability System (GAS), UI tooling (e.g., UMG and Slate), asset systems (e.g., Asset Registry and Asset Async Loading), and rendering features (e.g., Nanite, Lumen).
  • Willingness to selflessly put player experiences first - before even your own code and ego.
  • Proactive approach to communication, particularly when it comes to unblocking yourself and navigating obstacles as part of a team.

Nice-to-Haves

  • Experience with additional game engines, including Unity or bespoke game engines.
  • Experience developing SDKs or plugins to be used by other developers you may not be working with directly.
  • Background developing games for consoles and integrating with console SDKs.

Benefits:

  • Compensation: $145,000-165,000/year. Please note that final base pay will ultimately depend upon a combination of factors, including your prior experience, general qualifications, and broader skill set.
  • 9 Paid Holidays plus Flexible PTO and Annual Winter Break Closure
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Annual Video Game Budget
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Paid Parental Leave

EEO Statement

At Rushdown Studios, we believe that we're made better by each of the different perspectives that our team members bring to the table. We said it above, and we'll say it again: We want to hear from you, even if you don't meet all of the requirements for a specific role.

We're also an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race; color; ancestry or national origin; religion; physical or mental disability; age; sex, including pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender, gender identity, or gender expression; medical condition; genetic information; or marital, military, or veteran status.

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