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Animation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AGBO Films LLC

Principal Animation Engineer

AGBO is seeking a Principal Animation Engineer to lead the technical vision and development of animation systems for our interactive projects. This role focuses on building scalable, high-performance ...

De Circle

Animation Engineer - EmptyVessel

Austin, TX · On-site +1

We are seeking 1-2 mid-level Animation Engineers with exceptional Unreal Engine 5 expertise to join our team in Europe. The ideal candidates will possess a strong background in animating within ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

The Senior Animation Programmer is responsible for the implementation of CDPR-specific extensions and animation technology while working with the code for Unreal Engine's animation technology, tools ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

The Senior Animation Programmer is responsible for the implementation of CDPR-specific extensions and animation technology while working with the code for Unreal Engine's animation technology, tools ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

The Senior Animation Programmer is responsible for the implementation of CDPR-specific extensions and animation technology while working with the code for Unreal Engine's animation technology, tools ...

TechLink Systems

Flash - Animator

Torrance, CA · On-site

... animation and mobile content, and in object-oriented designed methodologies and programming languages is a must (e.g. ActionScript, CSV, XML, and HTML5, etc.) Bachelor's degree or equivalent in ...

31st Union

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$108.90K - $161.16K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... What We Need: We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for ...

TechLink Systems

Flash - Animator

Torrance, CA

... animation and mobile content, and in object-oriented designed methodologies and programming languages is a must (e.g. ActionScript, CSV, XML, and HTML5, etc.) Bachelor's degree or equivalent in ...

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA

$108.90K - $161.16K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... What We Need: We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for ...

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$108.90K - $161.16K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... What We Need: We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for ...

Turtle Rock Studios

Technical Animator - Temp

Irvine, CA · On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

Work directly with Programming, Animation, and Design to prototype and deliver excellent combat, character locomotion and movement mechanics, facial animation, and other new game features to deliver ...

Roblox

Senior Software Engineer, Avatar Animation

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$139.50K - $183.90K/yr

As Senior Software Engineer on the Avatar Animation team, you will leverage the Roblox game engine and tools to build groundbreaking experiences that push the boundaries of what is possible on the ...

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$145.4K

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How much do animation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation engineer in the United States is $145,359.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Animation Engineer job?

An Animation Engineer is a technical specialist who develops and optimizes animation systems for video games, films, and interactive media. They work closely with animators and software developers to create smooth, efficient, and realistic animations using programming languages, game engines, and animation tools. Their responsibilities often include developing animation rigs, physics-based movement, and real-time character interactions. Strong coding skills, knowledge of animation principles, and experience with tools like Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Animation Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Engineer, you need strong programming skills—often in C++, Python, and graphics APIs—paired with a solid understanding of computer graphics, mathematics, and animation principles. Proficiency with tools like Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine, and experience working with animation pipelines or real-time rendering systems are typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and clear communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure seamless integration of technical and artistic requirements, efficient collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and the creation of high-quality animated experiences.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Animation Engineer?

As an Animation Engineer, your day-to-day tasks often include developing and optimizing animation systems, collaborating with animators and designers to implement new features, and troubleshooting technical issues related to character or object animation. You may also write scripts and tools to streamline animation workflows or assist in integrating animations into game engines or production software. Regular communication with both artistic and technical team members is essential to ensure that animations look and perform as intended. This collaborative environment supports innovation and continuous improvement, making each project engaging and dynamic.

What does an Animation Engineer do?

An Animation Engineer develops and implements animated content for video games, films, or virtual environments by creating algorithms and tools to produce realistic or stylized animations. They often work with programming languages, animation software, and physics simulations to ensure smooth, efficient motion and visual effects. Strong coding skills and knowledge of animation principles are essential in this role.
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Animation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $145,359 per year, or $69.9 per hour.

Principal Animation Engineer

AGBO Films LLC

Remote

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

About the Company:
Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the future of film and television. The Russo Brothers and AGBO have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office, including Avengers: Endgame. The studio's projects include Academy Award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix hits The Gray Man and Extraction, and Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 premieres in May 2026.
AGBO is currently in production with Netflix on Tygo and Mercenary, both part of the Extraction universe, as well as with Lionsgate on John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic franchise. The studio is in post-production on The Whisper Man, starring Robert De Niro, and Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released December 18, 2026. AGBO will begin shooting Avengers: Secret Wars later this year. Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and Marvel Studios.
Position Summary:
AGBO is seeking a Principal Animation Engineer to lead the technical vision and development of animation systems for our interactive projects. This role focuses on building scalable, high-performance animation architecture that supports expressive, responsive, and emotionally resonant gameplay.
As a Principal Animation Engineer, you will define the technical direction for animation systems across the project-owning core runtime architecture and partnering closely with Animation, Design, and Technical Art. You'll play a critical role in ensuring our character performance and gameplay feel meet the cinematic and storytelling standards.
This role is preferred based in Raleigh, NC, but open to fully remote candidates.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Define and lead the technical strategy for animation systems within Unreal Engine (UE5), ensuring scalability, maintainability, and performance.
  • Architect and implement advanced runtime animation systems including state machines, animation blueprints, motion matching, locomotion systems, blending frameworks, and procedural solutions.
  • Collaborate closely with animators to ensure animation content integrates seamlessly and performs optimally in-engine.
  • Establish and communicate best practices for animation pipelines, performance optimization, replication, and networked animation systems.
  • Serve as the primary technical partner to Animation leadership, translating creative goals into sustainable engineering solutions.
  • Identify performance bottlenecks and proactively implement solutions to maintain high frame-rate targets.
  • Partner with Design and Gameplay Engineering to ensure tight integration between animation systems, combat mechanics, and player controls.
  • Contribute to tooling improvements and workflow enhancements that increase iteration speed and team efficiency.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills:
  • 10+ years of professional experience in gameplay or animation engineering, with multiple shipped titles and at least one in a senior or principal capacity.
  • Significant professional experience as an Animation Engineer on at least one shipped UE4 or UE5 title.
  • Experience developing animation systems for a third-person game, with strong understanding of locomotion, combat, and character responsiveness.
  • Deep expertise in C++ and Unreal Engine animation frameworks (Animation Blueprints, Montages, Blend Spaces, Control Rig, etc.).
  • Strong understanding of character movement, camera systems, and player input responsiveness.
  • Experience optimizing animation systems for performance across platforms.
  • Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and mentor other engineers.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to non-engineering partners.

Bonus Skills:
  • Experience with motion matching, procedural animation, IK systems, or advanced locomotion frameworks.
  • Familiarity with network replication for character animation systems.
  • Experience working on narrative-driven or cinematic gameplay experiences.
  • Background in early-stage or prototype development environments.

AGBO Labs LLC is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We aim to recruit the right people for the jobs we have to offer, and to assess applications on the basis of relevant skills, education and experience.
AGBO participates in E-Verify - English | Spanish
The job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position.

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