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Animation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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

$108K - $161K/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

$108K - $161K/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 ...

Bonfire Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$113K - $129K/yr

Partnering with animation, engineering, and tech art to help shape rigs, tools, and animation systems that improve workflows and elevate quality. * Owning animation features end-to-end, from early ...

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All JobsAnimation Engineer JobsAnimation Engineer Jobs in California

Animation Engineer information

See California salary details

$79.9K

$143.5K

$202.3K

How much do animation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation engineer in California is $143,455.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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.
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Animation Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Animation Engineer jobs in California? For Animation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Engineer job openings:
Animation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,455 per year, or $69 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer - Robot Animation

Senior Software Engineer - Robot Animation

Netpace

San Francisco, CA

Other

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Robot Animation Engineer

Our project is developing a new class of robotic platforms for social interaction. The project is at an exciting early stage where you can have significant strategic impact on a potentially massive market opportunity. As a Robot Animation Engineer, you will be innovating at the frontier between art and engineering to develop solutions that achieve creative and technical product objectives. Your job will bridge ideas, people, and implementations in the exciting and unexplored space of social human-robot interaction systems. You will work with a global cross-disciplinary team of designers, hardware engineers, and software engineers in order to rapidly prototype and evaluate interaction concepts as well as take them to production.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Architect and implement client capabilities for expressive multimodal robot behavior including intelligent physical motion and 2D animation
  • Research and evaluate software frameworks to apply to robot behavior prototyping and production
  • Develop and maintain tools and pipelines for teams of artists and engineers to create engaging content for interactive robotics systems
  • Develop procedural art and animation assets for interaction concept prototypes
  • Participate in brainstorming sessions on morphology and motion design
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary and multi-cultural team of designers, hardware engineers, and software engineers to design solutions
  • Work independently and in a self-directed manner to deliver on schedule

Requirements for position:

  • B.S. in Computer Science, Computational Media, or similar field
  • 5+ years of professional software experience (preferably in graphics, gaming, or media production)
  • Experience developing industry pipelines and tools for art, animation, and/or game production
  • Strong grasp of mathematics for 2D and 3D animation and graphics (e.g. geometry, linear algebra, kinematics, physics)
  • Experience collaborating with designers to achieve creative and aesthetic objectives
  • Strong systems thinking, and ability to switch between creative and technical tasks
  • Strong written and spoken communication skills
  • Work authorization in the US (no H1B or green card sponsorship)
  • Willingness to travel internationally and work across time zones
Netpace logo

About Netpace

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netpace is a reputable company in the Information Technology and Services industry, headquartered in San Ramon, California, in the United States. The company specializes in providing digital transformation solutions by leveraging cutting-edge technologies. It offers a wide array of services, including Software Development, IT Consulting, Cloud Services, Infrastructure Management, and Digital Marketing. Ever since its launch, Netpace has been driven by a mission to use technology as a medium to shape future businesses and make a significant impact.

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

San Ramon, CA, US

Year founded

1996

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