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Animation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the ... You will work alongside our world-class animation team to create intuitive rigs and visually ...

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 ...

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the ... You will work alongside our world-class animation team to create intuitive rigs and visually ...

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 ...

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 ...

Roblox

3D Animator (Short Term)

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Iterate quickly based on feedback from animation leads, designers, and engineers * Export animations properly for Roblox Studio integration (using compatible formats and best practices) * Use ...

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 ...

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 ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

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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 Sep 3, 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 is an animation engineer?

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 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 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 designs and develops algorithms, tools, and systems to create and optimize animations for video games, films, or virtual environments. They often work with programming languages like C++ or Python and collaborate with artists and designers to ensure smooth, realistic motion and visual effects. Strong technical skills and knowledge of animation principles are essential for 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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 58% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 12% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 88% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,455 per year, or $69 per hour.

Technical Animator

Jam City

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the hunt for innovators who consider themselves dynamic, collaborative and thrive in a fast-paced environment. 
 
PERKS & BENEFITS
Unlimited Vacation, Paid Sick Days, Kin Care & Holidays*
100% Covered Medical and Company-Sponsored Dental & Vision (Plans Vary)*
Life Insurance, 401k, Flexible Spending Accounts, & More*
Wellness Activities & Programs
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave*
Happy Hours
Company Events
*Only applies to full-time positions.

We are currently looking for a talented Technical Animator to join our tightly knit group of artists, animators and tech artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical solutions and animating . You will work alongside our world-class animation team to create intuitive rigs and visually stunning animations for our upcoming and live games!


**In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Rig characters, creatures and props that adhere to all the animation needs.

  • Export, import and assemble animations in Unity.

  • Create State Machine and Blend Trees in Unity.

  • Augment and maintain the animation pipeline.

  • Propose or create tools to automate the animation pipeline.  

  • Assist the animation team with high quality animation. This includes short loops, locomotion cycles, and full cinematics with camera and character animations.

  • Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel.

  • Embellish story scenes with high quality FX using particles or shaders in Unity. 

  • Setup and maintain cloth simulation pipelines.

  • Able to maintain clean and organized work files.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience rigging characters and props using Maya.

  • A minimum of 3 years of experience animating characters using Maya.

  • Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. 

  • Self-motivated, an excellent communicator and a team player. Go to great lengths to create outstanding work rather than settling for bare minimum.

  • Excellent understanding of human and animal anatomy.

  • Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms.

  • Expertly apply animation principles to in-game animation: timing, acting, & body mechanics.

  • Experience with Unity particle systems. 

  • Proven problem-solving and prototyping ability, collaborating within the animation team and across adjacent teams.

  • Excellent grasp of the English language.

  • Able to be onsite 5x a week.
NICE TO HAVE

  • Have shipped AAA and/or mobile games as a technical animator, animator, rigger or tech artist.

  • Experience in creating animated shaders.

  • Film animation experience.

  • A passion for games!

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation for this role.  The range listed is just one component of Jam City's total compensation package for employees, which may also include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, or market demands. This range is based on a full-time position. This range may be modified in the future. In addition, Jam City provides a variety of benefits to employees, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan, life, disability, and accident insurance.  Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 salary per year.

CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN:
- Company news and events on our LinkedIn
- Company Blog
- Employee Feedback on our Comparably page
- Find videos on our teams and games on our Youtube
 
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION
We believe in creating games that unite people across the world and that showcase our commitment to providing an environment that is both inclusive and diverse for our players and employees. We strive to create a workforce that is reflective of our global player community as we know that we are stronger and better when we play together. To help promote an inclusive culture, we celebrate the visible and invisible diversity of our Jam Citizens through initiatives including Employee Resource Groups, cultural events, trainings, speaker series, and more. 
 
Jam City is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, religion, ethnicity, marital, or domestic partnerships status, disability, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws. Our management is committed to following this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruiting, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.
 
ABOUT JAM CITY
Jam City is a leading entertainment studio with a proven track record of creating some of the world's most beloved casual puzzle and story-driven mobile games. As the creative force behind fan-favorite, award-winning titles such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City develops engaging and dynamic games that become an enduring part of our players' lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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