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Animation Rigger Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cinnamon

Technical Animator / Rigger

Atlanta, GA · On-site

The Technical Animator / Rigger will design, build, and maintain character and creature rigs for ... Our horde-shooter combat needs a large library of animation states across players and monster ...

Incessantrain

Create facial rigs and blendshapes for expressions, lip sync, and animation * Perform advanced ... Troubleshoot and resolve complex rigging and animation issues * Collaborate with animators ...

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of ...

Jam City Inc

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of ...

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of ...

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of ...

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site +1

An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data between tools * The proven ability to work under pressure * Being open to direction and able to embrace ...

Weekday AI

Character and Facial Animation Consultant

$60 - $90/hr

Relevant backgrounds may include character animation, facial animation, performance capture, motion editing, facial rigging, or related character-performance disciplines. The role is not intended for ...

Festybay

$60K - $82K/yr

Rigging & Blueprints: Work closely with character/prop rigging tools, utilize Control Rig within Unreal Engine, and configure Animation Blueprints to establish responsive, realistic product behaviors.

Skild AI

Senior Robot Animator

San Mateo, CA

$120K - $137K/yr

This is an animation-first role focused on the computer graphics side of motion - rigging, keyframe animation, body mechanics, and the editing and retargeting of captured data. Strong candidates pair ...

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Animation Rigger information

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$14

$26

$36

How much do animation rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigger in the United States is $26.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.08 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animation rigger do?

An Animation Rigger creates the skeletal structures that animators use to bring characters and objects to life in movies, games, and other media. They design and implement control systems for movement, ensuring realistic and flexible animation. Riggers work closely with animators, modelers, and technical artists to ensure characters move naturally and efficiently. They use software like Maya, Blender, or Houdini to build rigs that allow animators to manipulate models with ease.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an animation rigger?

To thrive as an Animation Rigger, you need strong knowledge of anatomy, movement, and 3D animation fundamentals, often backed by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya or Blender, and familiarity with scripting languages like Python or MEL, are typically important; some studios may value certifications in these tools. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective communication enable collaboration with animators and modelers to deliver high-quality rigs. These competencies help ensure that digital characters move realistically and that production pipelines run efficiently.

How to become an animation rigger?

To become an animation rigger, individuals typically need a strong foundation in 3D modeling, rigging, and animation, often gained through a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya or Blender and understanding of character anatomy and movement are essential, along with building a portfolio to showcase rigging skills.
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Animation Rigger jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Rigger job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% Internship, 62% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 73% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,114 per year, or $26 per hour.

Technical Animator / Rigger

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Cinnamon
Marketing • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Cinnamonexternal

Other

Posted 11 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design, build, and maintain character and creature rigs for animation across media and games.

  • Create and refine deformation setups, support motion capture workflows, and troubleshoot technical issues related to rigging.

  • Collaborate with animators, designers, and engineers to develop rigging tools, workflows, and ensure rigs are intuitive, performant, and visually appealing.

Job description

Lightfold Games · Atlanta, GALightfold is a creator-first entertainment studio bringing fans and creators together to build original worlds across animation, comics, games, and more. We believe great stories come from giving talented people the freedom, ownership, and support to do their best work, then inviting audiences to come along for the ride.Now, we're building Lightfold Games.Come in on the ground floor, we're hiring to bring our 3D game development and asset production in-house and create a team that can help define not only this game, but what Lightfold Games becomes.These are hybrid positions based in Atlanta, GA (Old Fourth Ward), with health benefits. We're looking for collaborative, ambitious people who want the rare opportunity to get in early, help establish how a new studio works, and build something from the beginning.Our first game: building a co-op horde shooter with a stylized look tied to a 2D cartoon. We're hiring the full founding team at once, 11 roles in parallel, so we can move all 3D asset production in-house.Role DescriptionThis is a full-time Technical Animator / Rigger role based in Atlanta, GA, with a hybrid work arrangement that allows some work from home. The Technical Animator / Rigger will design, build, and maintain character and creature rigs for animation across animation, comics-related media, and games. Day-to-day responsibilities include creating and refining deformation setups, integrating motion capture data into production pipelines, and collaborating with animators, designers, and engineers to ensure rigs are intuitive, performant, and visually appealing. The role also involves scripting tools and workflows to streamline rigging and animation processes, troubleshooting technical issues, and documenting best practices for the team. The person in this role will work closely with project leads to support storytelling goals while meeting production timelines and quality standards.Our horde-shooter combat needs a large library of animation states across players and monster variants. We're hiring two Technical Animators/Riggers to build the skeletal and animation pipeline that supports it.DetailsBuild skeletal rigs and skin weighting for players and monster variantsDevelop locomotion cycles and get them working cleanly in-engineSupport heavy animation-state needs: running, strafing, spraying, aiming, hit reactions, deathsWork closely with Character Artists on rig-friendly topologyMust Have QualificationsStrong rigging and skinning experience (Maya or equivalent)Experience with in-engine animation pipelines (Unreal Engine preferred)Comfortable supporting a large roster of animated variantsMore QualificationsStrong rigging skills for characters and creatures, with experience building robust, animator-friendly rigs.Proficiency in motion capture workflows, including cleaning, retargeting, and integrating mocap data into rigs.Experience with animation principles and practical animation work for film, TV, or video games.Scripting abilities (e.g., Python, MEL, or similar) to develop tools and automate rigging and animation tasks.Understanding of video game pipelines and real-time engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) is highly beneficial.Experience with industry-standard 3D software (such as Maya, Blender, or equivalent) for rigging and animation.Ability to collaborate effectively with artists, technical staff, and production, with clear communication and documentation skills.Strong problem-solving mindset, attention to detail, and ability to work in a hybrid environment based in Atlanta, GA.Relevant education or equivalent professional experience in animation, game development, computer graphics, or a related field. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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