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Animation Rigging Jobs (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 · 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 ...

Impleo

$79.93 - $125.60/hr

Own and optimize animation, rigging, and engine integration workflows * Troubleshoot complex animation‑related and pipeline issues * Continuously improve technical pipelines and workflows between ...

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 ...

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Animation Rigging information

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How much do animation rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigging 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 is an animation rigging?

An Animation Rigging job involves creating the digital skeletons that allow characters and objects to move in animation and video games. Rigging artists design and implement the control systems, including joints, bones, and deformers, that animators use to bring models to life. They work closely with modelers and animators to ensure smooth movement and realistic deformations. Strong technical skills in 3D software and scripting are often required for this role.

What does an animation rigging artist do?

Animation Rigging artists spend their days designing and building digital skeletons and control systems that allow animators to create lifelike movement for characters and objects. You may work closely with modelers and animators to ensure rigs are user-friendly and optimized for the production pipeline, regularly troubleshooting or refining rigs based on animation feedback. Collaboration is a big part of the job, as you often interact with technical artists, animators, and supervisors to maintain the quality and efficiency of the rigging process. The role can involve balancing technical tasks with creative problem-solving, making it both challenging and rewarding for those passionate about animation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed for animation rigging?

To thrive in Animation Rigging, you need a solid understanding of anatomy, movement, and 3D animation principles, usually supported by experience in computer graphics or related fields. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, as well as scripting languages such as Python or MEL, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and clear communication help riggers effectively integrate with animators and technical artists. These competencies are crucial for building flexible, efficient rigs that enable high-quality animation and seamless production workflows.

How to become an animation rigger?

To become an animation rigger, you should develop skills in 3D modeling, rigging, and animation using software like Maya or Blender. A relevant degree in computer graphics, animation, or a related field, along with a strong portfolio demonstrating rigging work, is often required. Gaining experience through internships or personal projects helps build proficiency and industry connections.
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Animation Rigging jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Rigging job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Internship, 47% Full Time, 32% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 58% In-person, and 42% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,114 per year, or $26 per hour.

Technical Animator

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Big Shot Pictures
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Posted 20 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