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Animation Engineer Jobs in North Carolina (NOW HIRING)

Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

$98K - $112K/yr

Work closely with the Animation, Design, and Engineering departments to analyze, troubleshoot, and solve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges * Closely ...

You will act as a bridge between animation and engineering - helping to define workflows, shape systems, and solve complex problems at the intersection of gameplay and motion. This role requires both ...

Collaborate with Design and Engineering to troubleshoot and resolve in-game animation issues and technical challenges * Identify opportunities to improve the animation pipeline and workflow, and ...

... animation, engineering, and VFX pipelines, with an understanding of how technical constraints shape design decisions and how to advocate for quality within them • Candidates must be legally ...

Job Title: Senior Software Engineer (Games) Location: Wilmington, NC Department: NC Game ... animators using Unity and C#. - Translate game design documents, creative direction, and cross ...

Job Title: Senior Software Engineer (Games) Location: Greenville, NC Department: NC Game ... animators using Unity and C#. - Translate game design documents, creative direction, and cross ...

Working closely with programmers, animators, and other designers, you'll help shape and refine the core combat loop - from prototyping new ideas to tuning the final experience. This is a hands-on ...

Working closely with programmers, animators, and other designers, you'll help shape and refine the core combat loop - from prototyping new ideas to tuning the final experience. This is a hands-on ...

Working closely with programmers, animators, and other designers, you'll help shape and refine the core combat loop from prototyping new ideas to tuning the final experience. This is a hands-on, high ...

Senior Game Developer

Greenville, NC · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

The Senior Game Developer is responsible for building high-quality casino games in Unity/C# from ... Strong Unity implementation skills, including working with scenes, prefabs, UI, animation, assets ...

iOS Developer

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$50.50 - $69.50/hr

Role: iOS Developer Duration: Full Time Location: Charlotte, NC * Design and build applications for ... Experience with iOS frameworks such as Core Data, Core Animation, as well as offline storage ...

IOS Developer

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$50.50 - $69.50/hr

Proven experience as an iOS Developer or similar role. * Proficiency in Swift (preferred) and ... Strong understanding of iOS frameworks, including UIKit, CoreData, Core Animation, etc.

You will collaborate with project managers, developers, and content creators to produce visually ... Create engaging animations and motion graphics to enhance student learning and understanding.

Android Developer

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$54.50 - $71.50/hr

... animation and transition Very strong in multi-threaded programming Experience with Android NDK ... Experience in developing a complex application Additional Information Multiple Openings for OPT/CPT ...

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Showing results 1-20

Animation Engineer information

See North Carolina salary details

$73.6K

$132.1K

$186.3K

How much do animation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation engineer in North Carolina is $132,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,400.00 and $157,200.00 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 North Carolina?

The most popular types of Animation Engineer jobs in North Carolina are:

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Animation Engineer job openings in North Carolina as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 7% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,102 per year, or $63.5 per hour.

Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

$98K - $112K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ART
What We Do
Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for a Senior Technical Designer in Animation (TDiA) to join our team working across various animation systems. As a TDiA, you will use your animation sense and technical understanding of character animation to design and create gameplay animation systems that facilitate appealing, high-quality character motion. You will be the primary point of contact for animation implementation issues and any animation-related technical challenges, and you will work closely with Animation, Design, and Engineering colleagues to ensure the animation pipeline operates smoothly and efficiently. You will also help identify potential issues and deploy correct solutions, using your technical knowledge to help bridge and facilitate communication between the animation team and other departments.
In this role, you will
  • Create animation behavior tools/techniques/philosophies that allow the building of complex movement systems
  • Design and implement animation state machines/behaviors and runtime solutions
  • Work closely with the Animation, Design, and Engineering departments to analyze, troubleshoot, and solve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
  • Closely collaborate with the animation leadership to maintain the style and quality bar for animations in the game
  • Look for opportunities to improve the animation pipeline/workflow and help provide solutions for technical animation problems, including performing training and creating documentation for the animation team
What we're looking for
  • A strong animation sense with a clear understanding of realistic and stylized character motion and how to achieve them with modern animation methods
  • Expertise with animation pipelines, including source content creation tools such as Maya, MotionBuilder, and the Unreal Engine, using our Control Rig toolset
  • Exceptional problem-solving ability with strong written communication and teamwork skills
  • Familiarity with gameplay animation tools and concepts, such as blend trees and state machines; experience with Unreal Engine Animation Blueprints is a plus
  • Experience with AAA game development, preferably on a large team using an established game engine (internal or commercial); experience with Unreal Engine is a plus
  • Self-motivation, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently
  • Coding knowledge or experience with C++ is not required
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.