1

Animation Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer - C++/UI

Warren, MI · Hybrid

$115K - $151K/yr

We are looking for a strong C++ Software Engineer to support development of next-generation ... Rendering pipeline, Frame timing/jank, Animation handling, Adaptive/responsive layouts, Multi ...

You will work with designers, researchers, engineers, and cross-functional partners to create clear ... Contribute to prototypes, storyboards, animations, and presentations that communicate visual design ...

Senior Designer, System UI

Warren, MI · On-site

$125K - $192K/yr

Create design deliverables to communicate your work including sketches, drawings, mockups, animations, and prototypes * Release production spec and assets to software engineering teams * Present work ...

CAE Intern

Troy, MI · On-site

$14 - $18.75/hr

Who we are: EDAG Inc. is a globally leading, independent engineering services provider that ... works, Oasys Suite, and Animator. * Introduction to linear, non-linear optimization ...

You will work with designers, researchers, engineers, and cross-functional partners to create clear ... Contribute to prototypes, storyboards, animations, and presentations that communicate visual design ...

Senior Designer - In Vehicle

Warren, MI · On-site

$95K - $102K/yr

... animations, and prototypes to clearly communicate design intent * Release production specifications and assets to software engineering teams * Present design work to peers, partners, and leadership

Senior Designer - In Vehicle

Warren, MI · On-site +1

$95K - $102K/yr

... animations, and prototypes to clearly communicate design intent * Release production specifications and assets to software engineering teams * Present design work to peers, partners, and leadership

Senior Designer, System UI

Warren, MI · Hybrid

$125K - $192K/yr

Create design deliverables to communicate your work including sketches, drawings, mockups, animations, and prototypes * Release production spec and assets to software engineering teams * Present work ...

Android Developer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$53.50 - $70.50/hr

We excel in IT consultative services and quality engineer development, with Good years of ... Experience with iOS frameworks (e.g., Core Data,Coco touch, Combine & Core Animation). Familiarity ...

Develop UI style guides and design specifications to clearly communicate intent to developers ... Animation/Motion design using After Effects or similar programs * Experience using AI as a tool and ...

Motion, animation, or conceptual 3D * 3+ years of professional experience in UX Design, Product ... Understanding of engineering and software constraints Relocation: This job may be eligible for ...

Motion, animation, or conceptual 3D * 3+ years of professional experience in UX Design, Product ... Understanding of engineering and software constraints Relocation: This job may be eligible for ...

Youll work directly alongside experienced automotive HMI designers and engineers contributing to ... Motion graphics or animation * Blender, 3ds Max, or other 3D tools * Interest in automotive HMI or ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Animation Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$70.6K

$126.7K

$178.7K

How much do animation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation engineer in Michigan is $126,694.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,100.00 and $150,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is AI replacing 3D animators?

AI technology is increasingly used to assist 3D animators by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing workflows, but it does not fully replace the need for skilled animation engineers. Human creativity, artistic judgment, and technical expertise remain essential for producing high-quality animations. Animators who develop skills in AI tools and software can stay competitive in the evolving industry.

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.

Is animator a high paying job?

Animation engineers typically earn competitive salaries that vary based on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced professionals working in film, gaming, or software development can achieve high earnings, especially with specialized skills in 3D modeling and programming. Overall, it can be a well-paying career for those with technical expertise and a strong portfolio.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney Animation Studios has largely shifted focus from traditional 2D animation to 3D computer-generated imagery, but they occasionally hire 2D animators for specific projects or legacy work. Job seekers should review current openings to determine if 2D animation skills are in demand at Disney or other studios still producing 2D content.

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 animation systems for video games, films, or virtual environments, combining programming skills with artistic understanding. They work with tools like Maya or Blender and may use programming languages such as C++ or Python to create smooth, realistic animations and optimize performance. Strong knowledge of computer graphics, physics, and real-time rendering is essential for this role.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Engineer jobs in Michigan? For Animation Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Senior Android Software Engineer - In-Vehicle Infotainment OTA

Senior Android Software Engineer - In-Vehicle Infotainment OTA

General Motors

Warren, MI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


General Motors rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 306 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 44 rated automakers


Job description

Job Description
Work Arrangement:
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum or other frequency dictated by the business.
The Role
GM is looking to hire a Senior Android Software Engineer to lead design, development, and long-term maintenance of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) apps and OTA update clients on Android Automotive OS (AAOS) for GM's next-generation software-defined vehicles. The engineer will own major features end-to-end (architecture, implementation, validation, launch, OTA) and set the bar for safety, performance, reliability, and maintainability across Vehicle Applications & Services, with software deployed at scale across global fleets. This engieer will own features from concept through production and fleet-wide OTA rollout by collaborating with UX on automotive interaction patterns and multi-display HMI (cluster, center stack, HUD), Systems/platform on AAOS/AOSP integration and vehicle signals, QA/validation on vehicle-level test plans and defect resolution, Product on feature definition, trade-offs, and prioritization.
What You'll Do
  • Design, develop, build, and maintain IVI apps and services on AAOS / embedded Android to evolve OTA update clients with robust rollback, error handling, and fault recovery.
  • Own UX and interaction flows for key scenarios (e.g., media, navigation integrations, app-store experiences, messaging), ensuring experiences are intuitive, glanceable, compliant with Android Automotive UX, driver-distraction, safety guidelines and meet GM and regulatory requirements.
  • Drive performance on constrained hardware to optimize startup/resume times, frame rate, animation smoothness and manage memory, CPU, I/O for predictable behavior.
  • Integrate apps with vehicle properties, VHAL, navigation, media, voice assistants, and back-office services via AAOS APIs and IPC (AIDL, gRPC or similar) and instrument apps with logging, metrics, and traces for observability, field triage, and continuous improvement.
  • Define and collaborate on unit, integration, UI, and bench/in-vehicle test coverage and ensure fast cold-boot and resume and support multi-version AAOS/Android and long vehicle lifecycles.
  • Apply and evolve clean, modular Android architectures (e.g., MVVM + Jetpack) for large, long-lived automotive codebases by partnering with platform teams on AOSP/AAOS customization and integration.
  • Diagnose and fix issues across app, framework, and system layers.
  • Contribute to architectural decisions on system services, permissions, and security models and influence platform-level improvements in stability, performance, security, and developer efficiency.
  • Define and implement various test strategies like Unit tests (e.g., JUnit, MockK/Mockito), UI tests (e.g., Espresso, UI Automator), System/integration tests.
  • Build and maintain test automation for emulators and on-bench environments and integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and automated build systems.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to mid-level and junior engineers includes leading code and design reviews and champion best practices

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
  • Bachelor's degree in CS, Software Engineering, EE/CE, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of Android development with production Android apps or Android-based embedded software and proven experience on AAOS or deeply embedded Android platforms.
  • Expert Kotlin skills; strong proficiency in Kotlin and/or Java, Android SDK, and modern Android patterns (coroutines/Flow, Jetpack, MVVM or similar).
  • Deep understanding of App/activity lifecycles, Background limits, scheduling, background work, Coroutines/Flow, concurrency, configuration changes, Memory management, profiling, and performance tuning, Android permissions, security, and system services.
  • Track record of designing, implementing, and shipping complex features end-to-end in large codebases with strong debugging skills.
  • Demonstrated performance optimization on resource-constrained devices (UI, networking, I/O, rendering), with measurable improvements.
  • Strong grounding in software quality with experience automated testing, code reviews, defensive and secure coding
  • Experience writing and maintaining: Unit tests (JUnit, MockK/Mockito), UI tests (Espresso, UI Automator), System/integration tests.
  • Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated builds, and Git workflows in multi-team environments.
  • Effective cross-functional collaboration with UX, product, validation/QA, and platform/system engineers.
  • Clear written and verbal communication, able to drive decisions and explain complex topics to varied audiences.
  • Demonstrated use of advanced Android concepts (DI, background work, concurrency, profiling) in new features, bug fixes, and refactoring.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
  • 8+ years of experience working directly in AOSP/AAOS platform related code.
  • Knowledge of VHAL and vehicle property APIs.
  • Experience building or integrating OTA update mechanisms.
  • Familiarity with driver-distraction rules and in-vehicle HMI guidelines (OEM, regulatory, industry).
  • Experience with long-lifecycle automotive software, safety-critical or regulated systems (functional safety, cybersecurity, etc.).
  • Strong debugging with logs, traces, and system-level tools.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership:
  • Leading designs for complex features/subsystems.
  • Mentoring engineers.
  • Influencing standards, patterns, and tooling.

This Job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
#LI-SA2
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, emailus or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

What General Motors employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


General Motors logo

About General Motors

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908