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Animation Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Realtimevfx

Graphic Programmer (Shader/VFX)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

[HIRING] Hey everyone We're looking for a Graphic Programmer to join a Ukrainian hyper-casual mobile ... Creating satisfying visual effects and animations * Optimizing unconventional graphics for mobile ...

Actalent

Software Simulation Engineer

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$60 - $90/hr

Animation Blueprints * AR/VR/XR Development * OpenXR * Digital Twin Development * Modeling & Simulation * Real-Time Rendering Optimization * Azure DevOps * Python * C# * Mission Training Systems

Actalent

Software Simulation Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60 - $90/hr

Animation Blueprints * AR/VR/XR Development * OpenXR * Digital Twin Development * Modeling & Simulation * Real-Time Rendering Optimization * Azure DevOps * Python * C# * Mission Training Systems

AssemblyAI

Senior Design Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$180K - $240K/yr

Engineering is how you bring that design to life, because you don't have to hand your vision off to ... Motion design chops, comfortable using animation and micro-interactions to make an interface feel ...

Signode

Proposal Engineer

Roselle, IL

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

Signode

Proposal Engineer

Roselle, IL · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

Signode

Proposal Engineer

Roselle, IL · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Experience in engineering proposals and project management, required ... Ability to develop integrated 2-D layouts, 3-D modeling, and simulations/animations * Full ...

YA Group

Senior Accident Reconstructionist

Chicago, IL · On-site

Process 3D laser scan point cloud data using engineering workstation computers. * Work with forensic animators to develop scaled 3D drawings of crash scenes and vehicles. * Utilize PC Crash (or other ...

Coinflow

Frontend Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

About the role We're hiring a Front End Engineer - not a designer who occasionally codes, and not ... Bonus: familiarity with Next.js, React Native, or motion/animation libraries (Framer Motion, GSAP)

Coinflow

Frontend Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$150 - $180/hr

About the role We're hiring a Front End Engineer -- not a designer who occasionally codes, and not ... Bonus: familiarity with Next.js, React Native, or motion/animation libraries (Framer Motion, GSAP)

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Multimedia Engineer

O Fallon, IL · On-site +1

$69K - $158K/yr

Share Multimedia Engineer The Opportunity : Do you want to develop training that will transform ... animation, and interactive content development * 5+ years of experience producing multimedia ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Multimedia Engineer

O Fallon, IL

$69K - $158K/yr

Multimedia Engineer The Opportunity : Do you want to develop training that will transform that ... animation, and interactive content development * 5+ years of experience producing multimedia ...

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All JobsAnimation Engineer JobsAnimation Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Animation Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$78.5K

$140.9K

$198.6K

How much do animation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation engineer in Illinois is $140,856.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,400.00 and $167,600.00 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 Illinois?

The most popular types of Animation Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Engineer jobs in Illinois?

For Animation Engineer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

Animation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, 34% Part Time, and 26% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,856 per year, or $67.7 per hour.

Graphic Programmer (Shader/VFX)

Chicago, IL • On-site

Realtimevfx
See more jobs at Realtimevfxexternal

$90 - $130/hr

Other

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

[HIRING] Hey everyone We’re looking for a Graphic Programmer to join a Ukrainian hyper-casual mobile game studio, 300M+ downloads. Product — hyper-casual mobile games where every visual detail matters — satisfying effects, smooth animations, and shaders that make players think “wait, how did they do that?”

What you’ll be doing:
  • Writing shaders and developing new graphics technologies
  • Creating satisfying visual effects and animations
  • Optimizing unconventional graphics for mobile devices
  • Working on hyper-casual titles with potential expansion to PC
What we’re looking for:
  • Experience with shaders, rendering, and animations
  • Strong math: trigonometry, vector math, matrices
  • Understanding of tweens/easings
  • Creative and artistic eye — style, color, composition
  • Unity/HLSL (Unreal/GLSL also fine), understanding of mobile GPU

Fully remote, flexible schedule Small team, no bureaucracy, no rigid deadlines Open to Ukrainian and Belarusian candidates

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