ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Animation Rigger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Big Shot Pictures

Technical Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

This role operates at the intersection of animation, rigging, tools development, and engine integration, and is critical to ensuring characters and animation assets move efficiently from DCC tools ...

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 ...

New

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 ...

New

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 ...

New

Roblox

3D Animator (Short Term)

San Mateo, CA

Proficiency in FACS-based facial animation (Facial Action Coding System) or equivalent high-quality facial rigging/expression work * Expert-level skills in Autodesk Maya for animation production and ...

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. * Character Performance experience. * Effectively tell the story in a meaningful way through vivid and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimation Rigger JobsAnimation Rigger Jobs in California

Animation Rigger information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$36

How much do animation rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigger in California is $25.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.79 and $29.42 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.

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

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

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

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

Animation Rigger jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Rigger job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 71% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Technical Animator

Big Shot Pictures

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

About Big Shot Pictures

Big Shot Pictures is a next generation animation company founded by Brian Robbins that produces the franchises of tomorrow. With a distinctive digital-first approach, the company builds global animation franchises across all platforms – from digital to theatrical, gaming to streaming, and consumer products to experiences.



About The Rol

eWe are seeking a Technical Animator to support and scale our Unreal Engine–first, real-time character and animation pipeline. This role operates at the intersection of animation, rigging, tools development, and engine integration, and is critical to ensuring characters and animation assets move efficiently from DCC tools into Unreal Engine. The ideal candidate is highly technical, production-minded, and passionate about building reliable, scalable animation systems


.

This role will support the development of stylized, high-quality content for kids and family audiences, requiring a strong sense of performance, appeal, and character storytelling.


This is a temporary role which would report in-person at our studio in Los Angeles.


Responsibilities

  • Build, skin, and maintain character rigs in Unreal Engine or DCC packages such as Blender
  • Implement, maintain, and iterate on rigs using Unreal Engine Control
  • RigSupport and evolve the MetaHuman pipeline, including setup, iteration, and engine integration.
  • Organize, manage, and optimize large sets of animation and character data across multiple projects.
  • Manage assets for efficient sharing, versioning, and real-time performance optimization.
  • Collaborate closely with animators, character artists, and technical artists to solve pipeline and production challenges.
  • Ensure clean, reliable integration of skeletal meshes and animation data in Unreal Engine.


Required Qualifications

  • Proven experience skinning and rigging characters in a DCC package.
  • Hands-on experience with Unreal Engine Control Rig in production.
  • Strong understanding of asset organization, data management, and pipeline best practices.
  • Experience managing and optimizing animation assets for real-time production.
  • Familiarity with Unreal Engine MetaHuman workflows.
  • Experience building animation or rigging tools in DCC packages.
  • Ability to write and maintain tools using Python.


Nice to Have:

  • Experience working with motion capture systems and performance capture data.
  • Experience exporting, troubleshooting, and debugging skeletal and animation data in real-time engines.
  • Familiarity with Unreal Engine Blueprints.
  • Experience supporting across a wide range of styles, with an emphasis on stylized and appealing performance for kids and family content.
  • Interest in emerging tools and workflows that improve efficiency, iteration, and scalability.

Apply