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Animation Programmer Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

Tripledot Studios

Motion Designer

Toronto, ON

Prepare production-ready animations optimised for mobile performance, and implement and tune them in-engine alongside engineers * Collaborate with UI/UX artists on clear, readable, and engaging ...

Certain Affinity, Inc.

Senior UI Programmer

Toronto, ON · On-site

Senior UI ProgrammerDescription As a Senior UI Programmer at Certain Affinity, you will build the ... A detail-oriented eye for animation timing, layout precision, and overall user experience polish ...

TOPOLIO

Software Engineer, CTO

Toronto, ON

... with Core Animation Post-secondary degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent academic/professional experience required * Github experience Preferably living in or near the ...

TOPOLIO

Software Engineer, CTO (Remote)

Toronto, ON · Remote

Good eye for design and detail, passion for software architecture & innovation, and experience with Core Animation * Post-secondary degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent ...

Relay

Senior Design Engineer

Toronto, ON · On-site

$130.50 - $159.50/hr

Design Engineering is a small, deliberate function with a clear mandate: own the front‑end across ... You have experience with motion or animation work (motion/react, GSAP, or vanilla CSS animations)

Company3

Systems Engineer, Associate

Toronto, ON · On-site

... animation, and comprehensive VFX services. The Associate Systems Engineer will support VFX ... infrastructure and technology for the business unit. You will participate in deploying ...

Reactiv

Mobile Developer

Toronto, ON

Experience with Reanimated, or building smooth animations and interactions. * Some exposure to ... You'll have regular code review, pairing, and support from experienced engineers, with a clear path ...

Autodesk

Senior Software Developer Manager

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$156K - CA$228K/yr

You will lead multiple engineering teams to deliver scalable, cloud-native platform services that ... Experience in Media & Entertainment (M&E) or similar production environments (e.g., VFX, animation ...

GPL Technologies

Cloud Engineer

Toronto, ON · On-site

Cloud Engineer - Media & Entertainmen Workflows At GPL Technologies, our mission is to provide ... nature of animation, inspiration, and storytelling in a simple expression: "Art challenges ...

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All JobsAnimation Programmer JobsAnimation Programmer Jobs in Toronto, ON

Animation Programmer information

See Toronto, ON salary details

$31.5K

$94K

$168K

How much do animation programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation programmer in Toronto, ON is $93,954.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,940.00 and $119,769.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animation Programmer vs 3D Animator?

AspectAnimation Programmer3D Animator
Required SkillsProgramming, scripting, technical knowledge of animation pipelinesArtistic skills, character animation, storytelling
Work EnvironmentGame studios, software companies, technical teamsGame studios, film, advertising, freelance
Tools & SoftwareUnity, Unreal Engine, scripting languagesMaya, Blender, 3ds Max
FocusImplementing animation systems, optimizing performanceCreating and refining character animations

While both roles involve animation, an Animation Programmer focuses on coding and technical implementation of animations within software, whereas a 3D Animator emphasizes creating artistic character movements. Understanding these differences helps employers and professionals identify the right skill set for each role.

How do Animation Programmers typically collaborate with animators and game designers during a project?

Animation Programmers work closely with animators to ensure that character movements and environmental animations are seamlessly integrated into the game engine. They often participate in regular meetings with animators and designers to discuss technical constraints, workflow improvements, and creative solutions for complex animation systems. This collaboration ensures that artistic vision aligns with technical feasibility, resulting in smooth, responsive animations. Effective communication and an understanding of both creative and technical perspectives are essential for success in this role.

What is the highest paid animation job?

The highest paid animation jobs typically include lead or senior roles such as Animation Director, VFX Supervisor, or Creative Director, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, strong leadership skills, and proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya or Houdini.

What does an animation programmer do?

An animation programmer develops and implements the code that brings character and object animations to life in video games and multimedia projects. They work with animation tools, game engines, and scripting languages to ensure smooth, realistic movement and interactions, often collaborating with artists and designers. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ or Python and understanding of animation principles are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animation Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Programmer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C++ or Python, a solid understanding of mathematics (especially linear algebra), and experience with animation systems in game engines. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and Autodesk Maya, as well as relevant APIs and scripting languages, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the creation of smooth, realistic animations and seamless integration with gameplay, which are vital for engaging and immersive user experiences.

What are animation programmers?

Animation programmers are software developers who specialize in creating and implementing animation systems within video games or interactive media. They work closely with animators and designers to ensure that character and object movements are smooth, realistic, and responsive. Their responsibilities often include building tools for animators, optimizing animation performance, and integrating animations with game mechanics. Animation programmers use programming languages like C++ or C# and often work with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.

Are animators still in demand?

Animation programmers are still in demand as the entertainment, gaming, and virtual reality industries continue to grow, requiring skilled professionals to develop and implement animated content. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ and tools such as Maya or Unity enhances job prospects in this field.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON? For Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON are:
Animation Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Programmer job openings in Toronto, ON as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 89% In-person, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,954 per year, or $45.2 per hour.
Animation Tools Programmer (All Levels)

Animation Tools Programmer (All Levels)

Rockstar Games

Oakville, ON

Other

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. 

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry. 

Rockstar is on the lookout for a passionate Animation Tools Programmer. This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with our game development teams, across all animation disciplines, and help drive our animation tools technology forward to support the creation of all of Rockstar Games projects. 

The Animation Tools Programmer role will involve developing and maintaining animation related tools and pipelines for our advanced animation systems for large scale games. We're looking for someone with the skills to iterate with our animation and rigging teams to implement the very best tools for character, camera and facial animation.

This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar's unique game development studio in Oakville, ON.

WHAT WE DO
  • The Rockstar Games Tools Team create and maintain software tools that are used by all game development disciplines to support the creation of all Rockstar Games projects.
  • These software tools range from digital content exporters, a data processing asset pipeline to game, CI/CD automation systems and UI editors.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Work within the Tools team on all animation related technology, mainly focused on animation exporters, editors and pipelines.
  • Implement tasks to specification defined by the Lead Tools programmers.
REQUIREMENTS
  • A degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or equivalent.
  • Experience with C++ and/or C#.
  • Strong math skills.
  • Strong team communication skills.
  • Ability to work within a team.
  • Ability to work within a schedule and deliver effectively to deadlines.
PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

  • Experience with MotionBuilder and/or Maya.
  • Experience working with animators and riggers.
  • Games industry experience working on AAA titles.
HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar's reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please notify your recruiter during the interview process.  

** For those based in Toronto, Rockstar will provide accommodations to job applicants and employees as long as such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship on Rockstar, and consistent with its obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

If you've got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

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