ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Animation Director Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Hardsuit Labs

Technical Artist (Mid - Senior)

Seattle, WA · Remote

$130K - $155K/yr

Studio Art & Animation Director * Department: Art * Work Location: Fully Remote * Employment status: Full Time * FLSA: Salaried, Exempt * Benefits: Generous PTO, Health, Dental, & Vision coverage ...

Hardsuit Labs

Technical Artist (Mid - Senior)

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$144K - $173K/yr

Studio Art & Animation Director * Department: Art * Work Location: Fully Remote * Employment status: Full Time * FLSA: Salaried, Exempt * Benefits: Generous PTO, Health, Dental, & Vision coverage ...

VMG Studios

Creative Project Producer

Bellevue, WA

$80K - $105K/hr

This person brings a broad creative understanding across video, animation, design, and digital ... Director or client rather than deciding unilaterally. * Lead live-action shoots end to end ...

New

AST

Product Manager

Tacoma, WA · On-site

Direct complex development programs, maintaining full accountability for budget adherence and ... Preferred : • Exposure to 3D modeling, CFD, or animation software is highly desirable. Company

CoreWeave

Sr. Website UI/UX Designer

Bellevue, WA

Reporting to the Director of Website Strategy, the Senior Website UI/UX Designer will be ... Strong experience building high-fidelity prototypes and incorporating thoughtful animations and ...

Aquent

Experiential Activation Lead

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$50 - $60/hr

You will act as a creative director to drive the development of visual breakthrough creative concepts, animations, exhibits, static graphics, and interactive experiences. You will collaborate with ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimation JobsAnimation Director JobsAnimation Director Jobs in Seattle, WA

Animation Director information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$12.5K

$196.3K

How much do animation director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation director in Seattle, WA is $194,599.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $194,600.00 and $194,600.00 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 Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Animation jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What are popular job titles related to Animation Director jobs in Seattle, WA? For Animation Director jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Director jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Director jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Animation Director jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Animation Director job openings:
Animation Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Director job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 87% In-person, and 13% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $194,599 per year, or $93.6 per hour.

Technical Artist (Mid - Senior)

Hardsuit Labs

Seattle, WA • Remote

$130K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

ABOUT HARDSUIT LABS

Founded in 2015 by industry veterans Andy Kipling and Russell Nelson, we are a Seattle based game developer and co-dev studio who were recently acquired by Keywords Studios in 2023. We believe that great games can only be built with great people and that great people thrive and do their best work in a healthy, collaborative, and positive work environment that values them. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace and building equity throughout the organization. At Hardsuit Labs, we are respectful and inclusive, we are problem solvers and efficiency champions, we are curious and collaborative, we are flexible and adaptable and most of all we are always looking to deliver excellence in the experiences and products that we craft!

As a studio we have built a reputation as an Unreal Engine focused development house, working in a multitude of genres and games, from support work and work for hire to original development. We have long-standing relationships with some of the largest gaming companies in the industry and are a certified developer across all major platforms.

Role Overview

We are seeking a talented and versatile Mid to Senior Technical Artist to bridge the gap between our artistic vision and technical execution. In this role, you will collaborate closely with artists, designers, and engineers to optimize workflows, establish high-quality pipelines, and push the visual boundaries of our projects in Unreal Engine 5.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the 3D art pipeline, a strong grasp of 3D math, and the ability to maintain peak performance across multiple platforms—from high-end AAA environments to optimized mobile devices.

Key Responsibilities
  • Pipeline & Workflow Optimization: Define, build, and enforce technical and quality standards for all in-game art assets. Author comprehensive pipeline documentation to guide and support the art team.
  • Visual Development & Shaders: Develop advanced, optimized materials via node graphs using 3D/vector math. Create stunning real-time visual effects using Niagara FX.
  • Terrain & Procedural Workflows: Author complex, performant landscape and terrain materials (utilizing Runtime Virtual Texturing and layered shader workflows). Implement and leverage procedural generation systems (such as UE5’s PCG framework) to streamline world-building and environment art pipelines.
  • Performance & Rendering: Balance cutting-edge UE5 features (Lumen, Nanite) for AAA experiences while ensuring strict performance optimization and calibration for lower-end and mobile platforms.
  • Cross-Discipline Collaboration: Act as the primary technical liaison between art, design, and engineering to ensure seamless asset integration and clear communication.
What You’ll Bring (Requirements)
  • Artistic Foundation: Strong understanding of lighting, color theory, composition, visual balance, and PBR rendering standards/calibration.
  • Software Proficiency: Proven experience authoring high-quality textures using Photoshop and the Substance Suite for games.
  • Technical Scripting: Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP) using UE5 Blueprint scripting, functions, and data-driven systems.
  • Problem-Solving Mindset: Detail-oriented with a natural talent for troubleshooting, profiling, and debugging complex technical art issues.
  • Autonomy & Communication: Ability to work independently through complex challenges while remaining highly collaborative, approachable, and professional.

Bonus Points (Preferred Qualifications)

  • Tooling: Experience designing, developing, and deploying custom toolsets to
  • improve artist workflows.
  • Automation & UI: Proficiency with Python scripting for DCCs (Maya, 3ds Max, Blender) and Unreal Engine, as well as experience with Editor Utility Widgets (EUW) and UMG UI systems.
  • Shipped Titles: Track record of delivering results on previously published or shipped game titles.
  • Hybrid Experience: Past professional experience working directly as a production artist, game designer, or software engineer.

Job Details

  • Job Title: Technical Artist
  • Reports to: Studio Art & Animation Director
  • Department: Art
  • Work Location: Fully Remote
  • Employment status: Full Time
  • FLSA: Salaried, Exempt
  • Benefits: Generous PTO, Health, Dental, & Vision coverage; Healthcare and Daycare FSAs, 401k with company match; Life and Disability insurance, Technology Stipend, Paid Sick leave, commuter benefits, paid company holidays and office closures

This position is currently open to candidates residing in the following U.S. states only:

Arizona (AZ), Connecticut (CT), Florida (FL), lowa (IA), Illinois (IL), Massachusetts (MA), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), New Hampshire (NH), Nevada (NV), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Virginia (VA), Wisconsin (WI), Montana (MT), Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), Indiana (IN), Louisiana (LA), North Carolina (NC), New Jersey (NJ), Oklahoma (OK), Washington (WA), Pennsylvania (PA), Colorado (CO), New York (NY), Nebraska (NE), Kansas (KS), Idaho (ID) and Utah (UT).

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and reside in one of the eligible states listed above.

Salary Range: $66,000 to $95,000 USD

Primary working language: English

ABOUT HARDSUIT LABS

We are an independent game developer founded in 2015 in Seattle, Washington. We believe that great games can only be built with great people and that great people thrive and do their best work in a healthy, collaborative, and positive work environment that values them. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace and building equity throughout the organization. At Hardsuit Labs, we are respectful and inclusive, we are problem solvers and efficiency champions, we are curious and collaborative, we are flexible and adaptable, and most of all, we are always looking to deliver excellence in the experiences and products that we craft!

As a studio, we have built a reputation as an Unreal Engine-focused development house, working in a multitude of genres and games, from support work and engagement for hire to the development of original in-house projects. We have long standing relationships with some of the largest gaming companies in the industry and are certified developers across all major platforms.

Hardsuit Labs is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. You may view our Equal Employment Opportunity notice here. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Hardsuit Labs is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at HR@Hardsuitlabs.com

Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavor to create a workplace which provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY

By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at  https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice.

E-Verify Notification

This Organization Participates in E-Verify

Esta Organización Participa en E-Verify

Role Information: EN

Studio: Hardsuit Labs

Location: Americas

Area of Work: Game Development

Service: Create

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Remote