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Animation Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

teamLFG

OR

RESPONSIBILITIES Create high quality production animation content and implement that content in a game engine Collaborate with Animation, Design and Engineering to implement new animation systems and ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

2K

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and implement high-quality keyframe animation for both human and non-human characters, bringing them to ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

31st Union

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and implement high-quality keyframe animation for both human and non-human characters, bringing them to ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline. * Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation ...

teamLFG

Staff Technical Animator

$143K - $214K/yr

RESPONSIBILITIES • Create high quality production animation content and implement that content in a game engine • Collaborate with Animation, Design and Engineering to implement new animation ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

31st Union

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and implement high-quality keyframe animation for both human and non-human characters, bringing them to ...

2K

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and implement high-quality keyframe animation for both human and non-human characters, bringing them to ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

Scopely

Artists, animators, designers, and developers are unblocked quickly and supported by reliable workflows. * Tools and pipelines improve team efficiency and reduce repeated manual work. * Content is ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

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Animation Programmer information

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How much do animation programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation programmer in the United States is $39.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.72 and $51.44 per hour, 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.
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Animation Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Programmer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 72% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,234 per year, or $39.5 per hour.
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Animation Integration

Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Animation Integration

Genies, Inc.

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$180K - $270K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Genies is an AI avatar technology company powering the visual and embodiment layer for AI. Through the Genies SDK, their proprietary avatar framework brings AI to life as fully realized AI personas that look, think, behave, and play like living identities. Genies powers AI companion, NPC, and agent use cases across enterprise, consumer, creator, entertainment, and gaming. Genies has raised $200M from Silver Lake, BOND, and Bob Iger. Genies is built on the belief that every website, app, game, brand, and human will have an AI persona.
Genies is looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join our Avatar Technology team, focused on building the next generation of AI-driven animation systems. This role is focused on integrating machine learning systems into production animation pipelines and realtime environments, while also owning the applied ML work required to make these systems effective in practice. You will work across data, modeling, and runtime systems to ensure ML-driven animation performs reliably and at high quality in production.
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Integrate machine learning models into realtime animation systems across mobile and web environments.
  • Develop systems that translate inputs such as audio, text, and intent into responsive avatar motion in production.
  • Work with generative models (e.g., diffusion, transformer-based systems) and adapt them for specific use cases such as facial animation, gesture generation, and character behavior.
  • Collect, process, and manage animation datasets (mocap, facial capture, simulation data) for training, fine-tuning, and evaluation.
  • Build data pipelines for extraction, preprocessing, and validation of motion data.
  • Fine-tune and adapt existing models to improve quality, stability, and performance in production environments.
  • Collaborate with Behavior and LLM teams to integrate predictive motion systems into state machines and character logic.
  • Design and build tools and workflows that enable Technical Artists to work effectively with ML-driven animation systems.
  • Develop pipelines that connect DCC tools (Maya, Blender) with ML systems and runtime engines.
  • Debug, profile, and optimize runtime performance across CPU, GPU, and memory constraints.
  • Develop automation and validation systems to support asset quality and iteration speed.

What You Should Have:
  • 7+ years of experience in machine learning, animation systems, or related technical roles in games, VFX, or interactive media.
  • Experience developing and shipping ML systems in production environments.
  • Strong programming skills in Python, along with C++ and/or C#.
  • Experience working with animation systems, including skeletal animation, rigging, or simulation pipelines.
  • Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Experience working with datasets and building data processing pipelines.
  • Experience integrating systems into realtime engines such as Unity, Unreal, or web-based runtimes.
  • Strong understanding of performance constraints, including latency, memory, and scalability.
  • Experience building tools or workflows for Technical Artists or content teams.

Who You Are:
  • You are comfortable working across machine learning, animation systems, and realtime applications.
  • You can take models from prototype to production and understand the tradeoffs involved.
  • You care about animation quality and user experience, not just model outputs.
  • You work well with cross-functional teams across ML, engineering, and content.
  • You are proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning systems end-to-end.
  • You communicate clearly and can translate technical concepts across disciplines.

How Genies will support you
  • Competitive salary and equity packages
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Parental leave
  • Hybrid work structure (minimum 4 days in office weekly)
  • Monthly wellness reimbursement

Genies is a well-funded, fast-growing start-up that values innovation, creativity, and ownership. Our roles and their responsibilities are created with a breadth of scope that introduces each employee to exciting new challenges and opportunities that a growing start-up encounters. The actual base pay is dependent upon a number of factors, including: professional background, training, transferable skills, work experience, education, location, business and product needs, and market demand. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
These are for our full time, benefits eligible positions

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