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Animation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Staffingine LLC

UI Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$122K - $163K/yr

Develop animations with HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript Implement scroll effects, transitions, and responsive UI Ensure accessibility and cross-browser performance Collaborate with designers and engineers to ...

LottieFiles

Senior Platform Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

... Developers around Lottie Animations. LottieFiles is now used by over 96,000+ Global Companies ... The company aims to streamline the animation workflow and create a new realm of possibilities with ...

LottieFiles

Senior Platform Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

... Developers around Lottie Animations. LottieFiles is now used by over 96,000+ Global Companies ... The company aims to streamline the animation workflow and create a new realm of possibilities with ...

Gamma

UI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$122K - $163K/yr

About the role You'll build Gamma's visual experience: pixel-perfect layouts, smooth animations ... As a Frontend Engineer focused on UI and design systems, you'll partner closely with designers to ...

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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 10, 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 Gameplay Animator (Combat Specialist)

Tencent

Los Angeles, CA

$106K - $199K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Business UnitWhat the Role Entails
  • Collaborate with game designers and programmers to craft high-quality animations that look and feel exceptional.
  • Own the full animation pipeline, from previz and mocap planning through clean-up, keyframing, implementation, and playtesting; iterating until the result meets the highest standard.
  • Proactively communicate with programmers, designers, artists, and writers to ensure animations align with gameplay intentions, mission objectives, art direction, and narrative.
  • Embrace iteration and feedback, with a willingness to explore new ideas and both give and receive constructive critique.
  • Contribute to a collaborative, supportive, and creatively driven team environment.
Who We Look For
  • 7+ years of animation experience in video game development.
  • Expert knowledge of range and/or melee combat animation in AAA games.
  • Proficiency in editing and animating motion capture data in Maya.
  • Highly skilled in hand-key animation, with deep understanding of animation principles and strong aesthetic judgment; capable of accurately controlling the rhythm, impact, and silhouette appeal of character animation.
  • Demonstrates exceptional creativity and is capable of independently delivering high-quality combat action design.
  • Strong understanding of realistic body mechanics and performance.
  • Ability to learn and adapt to new tools and animation implementation techniques.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Self-motivated with a proactive approach to problem-solving and a drive to raise the quality bar.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • At least one shipped AAA title.
  • Project experience using Unreal Engine.
  • Experience with motion-matching, and pose-matching techniques.

Location State(s)

US-California-Los AngelesThe expected base pay range for this position in the location(s) listed above is $106,100.00 to $199,300.00 per year. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Employees hired for this position may be eligible for a sign on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Subject to the terms and conditions of the plans in effect, hired applicants are also eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, and participation in the Company's 401(k) plan. The Employee is also eligible for up to 15 to 25 days of vacation per year (depending on the employee's tenure), up to 13 days of holidays throughout the calendar year, and up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year. Your benefits may be adjusted to reflect your location, employment status, duration of employment with the company, and position level. Benefits may also be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.

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