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Animation Pipeline Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Work with the animation lead on tool, system and game play prototypes. Collaborate with the Tech Art Team in the development tools that support the animation pipeline. Collaborate with Design ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

Develop and refine animation pipelines, workflows, and tools, setting up onboarding, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning. * Deliver exceptional hand-key animations and edit motion ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Develop and refine animation pipelines, workflows, and tools, setting up onboarding, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning. * Deliver exceptional hand-key animations and edit motion ...

2K

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Develop and refine animation pipelines, workflows, and tools, setting up onboarding, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning. * Deliver exceptional hand-key animations and edit motion ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Work with the animation lead on tool, system and game play prototypes. Collaborate with the Tech Art Team in the development tools that support the animation pipeline. Collaborate with Design ...

Socket.dev

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123 - $182/hr

Develop and refine animation pipelines, workflows, and tools, setting up onboarding, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning. * Deliver exceptional hand-key animations and edit motion ...

New

2K

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Develop and refine animation pipelines, workflows, and tools, setting up onboarding, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning. * Deliver exceptional hand-key animations and edit motion ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAnimation Pipeline JobsAnimation Pipeline Jobs in California

Animation Pipeline information

What is the difference between Animation Pipeline vs Animation Artist?

AspectAnimation PipelineAnimation Artist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in animation, computer graphics, or related fieldRequires a strong portfolio, often with a degree or relevant experience
Work EnvironmentWorks across multiple departments, involved in project management and workflow coordinationFocuses on creating individual animation assets, often in a studio setting
Industry UsageUsed in production pipelines for films, games, and TV shows to streamline animation workflowsEmployed as a creative role to produce animated sequences or characters

The Animation Pipeline encompasses the entire process and workflow for producing animations, involving multiple roles and stages. In contrast, an Animation Artist specializes in creating specific animated assets within that pipeline. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and project responsibilities in animation production.

Are animators in demand right now?

Animators are currently in demand due to growth in the entertainment, gaming, and advertising industries, which require skilled professionals proficient in tools like Adobe Animate and Maya. The job market favors those with strong portfolios, technical skills, and experience in 3D or 2D animation, with opportunities available in both freelance and studio settings.

What is an animation pipeline?

An animation pipeline is the structured process that guides the creation of animated content, involving stages such as concept development, modeling, rigging, animation, rendering, and compositing. It ensures efficient workflow and collaboration among artists and technical teams using tools like Maya or Blender. A well-defined pipeline helps meet project deadlines and maintain quality standards.

What are popular job titles related to Animation Pipeline jobs in California?

For Animation Pipeline jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Pipeline jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Pipeline jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Animation Pipeline jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animation Pipeline job openings:

Animation Pipeline jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Pipeline job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 7% Internship, 67% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 76% In-person, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution.

Principal Gameplay Animator

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$150K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 hours ago

Job description

Summary
We are looking for a Principal Gameplay Animator to help define and deliver the animation quality, style, and feel of our AAA open world action-adventure game. As a creative and technical contributor, you will create exceptional gameplay animations, establish animation standards, and partner closely with Design, Engineering, Art, and Narrative teams to ensure that our animations are fluid, realistic, and enhance the overall gameplay.
This role combines hands-on animation development with leadership through craft. You will be expected to solve complex gameplay animation challenges, mentor other animators, influence animation pipelines and workflows, and help shape the overall player experience through world-class character performance and movement.
Core Responsibilities
  • Create high-quality gameplay animations that establish the visual and gameplay standard for all characters, creatures, and object animations.
  • Drive the development of locomotion, traversal, combat, interaction, and systemic animation content; review animation content and help maintain consistent quality and artistic direction across all gameplay features.
  • Collaborate with the Animation Director to define the animation style and direction.
  • Partner with Design and Engineering teams to implement animation systems that enhance gameplay feel, responsiveness, and player immersion.
  • Work closely with Technical Animation to improve pipelines, tools, and workflows.
  • Help establish efficient workflows that balance visual quality, gameplay requirements, and technical constraints.
  • Provide feedback and mentorship to other animators.
  • Ensure animations meet performance and memory constraints for different platforms.
  • Partner with outsource and co-development teams to review deliverables and ensure quality standards are met.
  • Stay current with industry trends and techniques in animation.

Core Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in animation within the video game industry.
  • Proficiency in Maya and other industry-standard animation tools.
  • Multiple shipped AAA titles in a gameplay animation role.
  • Strong understanding of Unreal Engine 5 animation systems, including Animation Blueprints, State Machines, Blend Spaces, Control Rig, and Motion Matching workflows.
  • Strong understanding of anatomy, motion, and weight in animation.
  • Experience with both keyframe animation and motion capture techniques.
  • Proven track record of leading animation teams and delivering high-quality content.
  • Ability to work collaboratively across departments and communicate effectively.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities with a balance of artistic vision and technical execution.
  • Self-motivated, organized, and able to drive complex initiatives with minimal oversight.

Plus if...
  • Experience developing animation systems AAA titles or games with a focus on realistic animation.
  • Experience with creature animation and complex character rigs.
  • Deep knowledge of traversal and combat animation.
  • Experience with motion matching, procedural animation, and physics-driven systems.
  • Experience building or improving animation pipelines and tools.
  • Experience working with external vendors and co-development partners.
  • Passion for open world gameplay, player expression, and immersive character performance.

Description
  • Full-time job with benefits.
  • Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.
  • Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeways.

The base pay range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

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